POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – As part of Dutchess County’s observance of Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day on Thursday, April 24th, County Executive Sue Serino announced today that Pawling Central School District bus driver Alan Barto has been honored with the 22nd Dutchess County School Bus Driver of the Year Award, highlighting his outstanding service and commitment to safely transporting students. The award is presented by the Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board to promote school bus safety, coinciding Operation Safe Stop, a Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee project which promotes school bus safety through education and enforcement efforts.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino emphasized the importance of school bus safety, stating, “Alan Barto is the kind of employee every district hopes for – dedicated, dependable, and committed to the students he serves. He shows up with compassion and professionalism every single day while never hesitating to go the extra mile for his colleagues or the students he serves. We’re so proud to recognize Alan as our School Bus Driver of the Year, and we thank him for everything he does to keep our kids safe."
During Operation Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day, County, state, and local law enforcement will monitor school buses to identify and ticket drivers who illegally pass when red lights are flashing. Officials will focus enforcement in high-violation areas identified by school transportation authorities.
New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law is simple and clear: Drivers must stop whenever a school bus’ red lights are flashing, including on divided highways, regardless of which direction the motorists travels. Failing to comply is both dangerous and illegal, with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000, the possibility of receiving five points on a driver’s license, and potential jail time – up to 30 days for a first offense and 180 days for repeat violations.
Mr. Barto, a school bus driver for 14 years, has maintained a spotless safety record without a preventable collision. County Executive Serino presented him with a commemorative plaque at the Operation Safe Stop press conference in recognition of his achievement. The Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board established the School Bus Driver of the Year award in 2002 to promote school bus safety and recognize the crucial role drivers play in protecting students.
“Alan’s willingness to take on any route, support his colleagues and assist with a variety of tasks reflects his outstanding work ethic,” Pamela J. Serafini, Supervisor of Transportation for the Pawling Central School District, wrote in her nomination of Mr. Barto. “He consistently transports some of our district’s most vulnerable students, doing so with incredible care and compassion. His dedication to his work and his colleagues is evident in everything he does.”
Dutchess County embodies the principles of Operation Safe Stop every day, as the County has implemented additional measures to enhance school bus safety. A school bus camera safety program, launched in December 2021 in partnership with BusPatrol LLC, enforces compliance with laws requiring motorists to stop for school buses with flashing red lights. This initiative provides school districts with cutting-edge safety technology, including photo enforcement equipment installed on 790 buses Countywide, at no cost to taxpayers; 11 of the 13 school districts in Dutchess County currently participate in the program.
County Executive Serino said, “In Dutchess County, we take school bus safety seriously – because when it comes to protecting children, there’s no room for mistakes. If a school bus has its red lights on, you must stop – even on a divided highway, even if there’s a median. The flashing red lights on school buses aren’t suggestions; it’s the law, designed to keep kids safe. Our school bus camera program is in place to hold drivers accountable, because this isn’t about handing out tickets – it’s about making sure every child gets home safely.”
According to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, approximately 50,000 motorists illegally pass stopped school buses in New York State every day, putting children’s lives at risk.
