Summer is winding down and the back-to-school season has just begun – or is about to start. That means that the roads are quickly going to become congested again with those familiar yellow buses.
For drivers, this is a good time to brush up on the rules of the road where school buses are concerned so that you can avoid tickets, collisions and the potential for a tragic encounter. Here are the most important things to keep in mind:
Watch the lights on the buses for indications of what to expect
School buses are equipped with a series of lights that bus drivers use to signal their intentions:
- Yellow flashing lights: These indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload passengers. While drivers often increase their speed when they see a yellow traffic signal flashing to avoid stopping on red, that approach can lead to disaster when a school bus is involved.
- Red flashing light and an extended stop arm: The bus has stopped and passengers will be getting on or off. A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 10-20 feet behind a school bus at all times so that you have ample time to react.
When the school bus is stopped, all vehicles in both directions must stop until the school bus retracts the stop arm and turns off the red flashing light. This includes not only traffic on two-lane roads but also traffic on multi-lane roads where there is no median divider. (On a divided highway with a median, only the traffic on the side of the median with the bus must stop. Traffic moving on the opposite side of the median can proceed with caution.)
Violating these rules is both dangerous and illegal. It can result in a $250 fine for the first offense – but much worse is the possibility that you could end up hitting a child that darts into the street as they enter or exit the bus.
Parents, too, need to educate their children on school bus safety and teach them to be cautious of cars – because not every driver is conscious of their obligations. If your child is injured by a negligent driver while entering or exiting a school bus, it may be wise to explore your legal options.
