Dutchess County Names Their Bus Driver of The Year From Pawling, New York

Congratulations are in order for one local Hudson Valley bus driver!

Dutchess County Celebrates Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day

Did you know that April 24th is Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day?

It's a statewide initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of illegally passing stopped school busses and to enforce traffic laws related to school bus safety.

Dutchess County is celebrating the safety holiday by honoring a specific bus driver in the county who has kept their passengers safe throughout their career.

Pawling Bus Driver Named Dutchess County Bus Driver of The Year

On April 23rd, 2025, Dutchess County Government announced their pick for Bus Driver of the Year.

This years award goes to Alan Barto of the Pawling Central School District. Dutchess County Government goes on to share that Barto has had a spotless safety record for the 14 years that he has been driving for the district.

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino shared the following about Barto and his dedication to bus safety writing

"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.

Adding "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."

Congratulations to Alan Barto and the Pawling School District!

Importance of Bus Safety Across the Hudson Valley

According to New York State, there are an estimated 50,000 motor vehicles that illegally pass school buses every day.

We don't need to tell you how dangerous that can be for students of all ages. As a reminder, drivers must stop whether you're approaching the school bus from the front or overtaking it from the rear.

The New York State website adds:

You must always stop for flashing red lights, even on divided and multilane highways and on school grounds.

If you're caught illegally passing a school bus for first time offenders you can get fined anywhere between $250 to $400 and 5 points on your license. There could also be possible jail time involved.

READ MORE: School Bus Safety Initiative Launches in Orange County, New York

Dutchess County explains that they have been promoting school bus safety through its bus-camera enforcement program in 2021. 790 buses in 11 of the 13 Dutchess County school districts are equipped with photo enforcement technology, with no cost to tax payers.