According to the National Safety Council (NSC), in 2017, there were 95 fatalities and 12,000 injuries, in school bus-related crashes. Also, according to the School Transportation News (STN), there are approximately 480,000 school buses, in the United States, that transport 26 million students to and from school each day. With that many buses out there on U.S. roadways, drivers need to take extra precautions when driving near school buses.
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Keep a safe distance if you’re behind a school bus – In order to allow for safe stops, keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the school bus. The recommended distance to maintain is roughly 10 feet, which allows you to be able to react quickly, if needed.
Be prepared to stop frequently if you’re behind a school bus – Because a school bus is designed to pick kids up and drop them off at various destinations, they will stop and they will stop often. So, if you’re behind a school bus for any length of time, be prepared to stop frequently.
School bus with flashing yellow lights – When a school bus is on the move and then suddenly displays flashing yellow lights, this is an indication that the bus is preparing to stop, likely to either drop kids off or pick them up. Once you notice the flashing yellow lights, slow down your speeds and be prepared to stop once the red flashing lights come on.
School bus with extended stop sign or flashing red lights – School buses are equipped with warning devices, like lights and signs, designed to let drivers know that they aren’t allowed to pass. In all 50 states, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading students on an undivided roadway, meaning a multi-lane road with no central barrier or raised median between the two traffic flow directions. The two states with exceptions are Ohio and Washington State. In Ohio, you can pass a stopped bus, as long as you are in an opposing lane and the roadway has at least 4 lanes. The same holds true in Washington State when a roadway has at least 3 lanes.
Understand the school bus laws for your state – Each state has their own laws regarding passing stopped school buses. These buses are posted in your state’s driver manual, available through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In the meantime, here are a couple quick guides with school bus laws by state- American Automobile Association (AAA) and Drive Safely. AARP’s Driver Safety Program has a complete list of School Bus Fines by State, for those who violate the state’s school bus laws.
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