With a new school year approaching, motorists are reminded to be vigilant of school children and school buses. Here are some important safety tips when sharing the road with school buses:
- It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
- School buses use yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that they are preparing to stop to load or unload children. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm signals to motorists that the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off the bus.
- Pennsylvania law requires that traffic in both directions stop on undivided roadways when students are entering or exiting a school bus.
- Traffic behind the school bus (traveling in the same direction) must stop.
- The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being hit.
- Stop your car far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary space to safely enter and exit the bus.
- Be alert. Children walking to or from their bus are usually very comfortable with their surroundings. This makes them more likely to take risks, ignore hazards or fail to look both ways when crossing the street.
- Never pass a school bus on the right. It is illegal and could have tragic consequences.
Author: Officer Laura Ashe