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News from Seniors And Law Enforcement Together (SALT)

School Bus Safety

School began in mid-August and motorists must be sure to share the road safely with school buses.  School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation on the road today. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, riding a bus to school is 13 times safer than riding in a passenger vehicle and 10 times safer than walking to school. It is necessary to know the proper laws and procedures for sharing the road safely with school buses.

•  All 50 states have a law making it 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.

•  All 50 states require that traffic in both directions stop on undivided roadways when students are entering or exiting a school bus.

•  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 are unpredictable. 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.