BRICK — Police have identified and charged a driver who failed to stop for a school bus on Old Squan Road while children were getting off the vehicle, authorities announced.
According to Brick Township Police, the bus had its red lights activated and stop arm extended as students crossed the roadway when the driver passed it, prompting strong concern from families and residents. Officers credited community members for helping quickly identify the vehicle involved.
The driver, who has not been publicly named, was issued a traffic summons in connection with the incident. Police noted that the charge is an accusation and the individual is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
In response, the department urged motorists to follow New Jersey’s school bus safety laws, emphasizing that ignoring bus signals puts children at serious risk. Drivers must stop at least 25 feet from a bus displaying flashing red lights and may not proceed until the bus’s signals are deactivated. Motorists approaching a stopped bus on the opposite side of a divided highway must reduce speed to 10 mph, and vehicles passing a bus that is picking up or dropping off students directly in front of a school may do so only at 10 mph.
Police reminded drivers to remain alert and avoid distractions, stressing that “a moment of impatience is never worth risking a child’s life.”
