The Seymour, Indiana, Police Department is taking a new approach to crack down on distracted driving.  The department launched what they call “Operation Pullover”.

Using school buses as undercover police vehicles, officers caught unsuspecting people who are distracted while driving, or otherwise breaking the law (not wearing  a seat belt, moving violations, texting, etc.).  The officers inside the bus then signal over to another officer nearby who pulls the person over.

The Seymour Police Department have identified that the number one cause of accidents in their jurisdiction is distracted drivers.  In 2015, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration attributed nearly 3,500 deaths nationwide to distracted driving. Seymour police have attributed 265 deaths in their county alone.

Officers estimated they caught about 10 drivers an hour during the operation, which is very unsettling.  The department expects to conduct more operations a couple of times a month.

Hopefully this will promote safer driving around school buses and school bus drop off and pick up points.