BALTIMORE — Forty-six agencies from across the state will receive a total of $548,411 in grants from the Maryland School Bus Safety Enforcement Fund to help make trips to school safer for students.

The news comes from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention. The office is working with the groups — which include law enforcement agencies — to reduce the number of illegal bus passing incidents in the state.

Earlier this year, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) conducted a one-day study that revealed that a total of 7,028 drivers in the state passed school buses with their stop arms extended and their red lights flashing, as SBF previously reported.

MSDE coordinated the February survey with school transportation directors in all 24 Maryland school systems. More than 4,712 school bus drivers took part in the survey, representing 65 percent of the school bus drivers in the state.

The school bus safety enforcement grants can be used for police overtime to enforce school bus safety laws or driver education activities, such as broadcast or print public service announcements.

To make the most of the funds available, agencies are encouraged to form partnerships with other agencies and community groups, officials said.