WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. — Charles Whitted of Wappingers Central School District was recently named the winner of the Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board's 10th Annual School Bus Driver of the Year Award in recognition of his exemplary service and safety record. The annual award is part of the board’s efforts to promote school bus safety.

Whitted was presented with a commemorative plaque and honored as the School Bus Driver of the Year at an Operation Safe Stop kickoff press conference on March 29 at the Wappingers Central School District office.

This year’s Operation Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day was held on March 30. Local law enforcement agencies across the state shadowed school buses to identify and ticket drivers who did not obey the flashing red lights on stopped school buses.

Whitted has been employed at Wappingers Central School District for 21 years. According to Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board Administrator William Johnson, “Mr. Whitted is a model bus driver who always keeps his eye on the safety of his students. In more than 21 years driving buses loaded with students, he has had no accidents — an exceptional achievement. Mr. Whitted is respected by supervisory staff, his peers and the many students and parents he has touched over the years.”

The Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board’s School Bus Driver of the Year award seeks to promote school bus safety through education and enforcement efforts. The annual award was initiated to increase public awareness regarding school bus safety issues and to recognize school bus drivers who get children to and from school safely on a daily basis.

Moreover, the award is a collaborative partnership between the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the Mid-Hudson Transportation Supervisors Association.

The Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board is a coalition of law enforcement, education, health and service agencies and individuals appointed by County Executive William Steinhaus who are committed to ensuring the safety of the county’s streets, sidewalks and residents.