National School Bus Safety Week is held every third week in October
and is celebrated across the country. The theme for this year is
“Stay Back from the Yellow and Black.”
School Bus Safety Affects Everyone on the Road
All motorists need to be aware of the laws regarding school buses,
school zones, and school bus stops.
The school bus safety tips that will be focused on this week are:
Stay at least 10 feet back from a school bus until the flashing lights are on and it has come to a complete stop.
Do not pick up objects near a school bus that have been dropped, alert the bus driver instead.
Look both ways before crossing the street after getting off the bus. Not all motorists stop for a school bus with flashing lights.
Driver Tips to Remember
Illegal School Bus Passing
Illegal school bus passing is a significant threat to children, as well as other drivers on the road. In all fifty states, it is illegal to pass a school bus while the stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing.
Understanding School Bus Lights
It's important to make sure your drivers are aware of the school bus laws and how they differ across states. The flashing lights that school bus drivers use to alert you are uniform. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.
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