The Park Forest Police Department reminds drivers to slow down and obey stopped school buses as children throughout the Village return to school.

In Illinois, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with its stop sign arm out and red lights flashing, whether on a roadway, in a parking lot, or on school property.

Deputy Chief Kristopher Vallow of the Park Forest Police Department stated that officers will be patrolling over the next few weeks to ensure that drivers follow the rules of the road and that children arrive at school safely.

"Starting this Friday, our dedicated officers will be out in full force, working tirelessly to enhance road safety in Park Forest. They will focus on enforcing occupant protection and cracking down on dangerous driving habits," Vallow said. "The goal is to make roadways safer here in Park Forest."

Vallow mentioned that the Illinois Department of Transportation funds this campaign to cover officers' wages for their extra work hours. He emphasized that knowing and following the basic laws of stopping school buses with flashing red lights and extended stop-arms can help drivers avoid getting tickets and keep children safe.

"When a school bus stops on a two-lane road to pick up or drop off students, all lanes of traffic must stop at least 20 feet before reaching the bus," Vallow said. "On streets with four lanes of traffic like Western and Sauk Trail, only traffic on the same side of the street must adhere to a stopped school bus."  

In the 2022-23 school year, the latest period for which data is available, there were 104 school bus-related deaths, including six in Illinois, according to the National Safety Council, of those, one involved pedestrians.