Brindisi Highlights Plan To Improve School Bus Safety

Congressman Anthony Brindisi was at the Westmoreland Central School District bus garage on Monday to highlight his plan to prevent illegal school bus passing and improve student safety

He was joined by Samantha Call, the Norwich City School District bus driver who was seen in a video saving a student from being hit by an illegally passing car.

Brindisi is co-sponsoring the bi-partisan Stop for School Buses Act.

The legislation would direct a comprehensive, nationwide review of efforts to prevent illegal passing of school buses.

“As a former school board member and a dad to two young kids, keeping students safe on their way to and from school is personal for me,” said Brindisi. “Every driver on the road has a responsibility to follow the law and exercise caution when a school bus is near. Our kids’ lives depend on it.”

According to the National School Transportation Association, an average of nine to 15 children are killed each year while boarding or exiting school buses near traffic and a total of 15 million illegal passing incidents occur during every 180-day school year.

Brindisi also commended Call and her fellow bus drivers for their commitment to student safety.