State police urge motorists to halt for stopped school buses

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana State Police are imploring drivers to stop disregarding school buses that have stopped to pick up or drop off students.

A spokesman, Sgt. Todd Ringle, says school bus drivers across Indiana reported more than 2,500 violations in a single day last month. He says motorists must stop when buses lower their stop arm, saying that "our precious cargo depends on us."

Three siblings were struck and killed last October in northern Indiana by a pickup truck as they boarded a bus that had stopped and lowered its stop arm.

A new state law taking effect July 1 allows judges to suspend a driver's license for 90 days for passing a school bus with its stop arm out. It also increases penalties for repeat violators.