As the fall begins, schools are back in session. With many schools back in-person after having remote learning, the roads will be busier this time of year. Many of these students will be taking school buses everyday. Many people have said that they drive through a school zone during their daily commute or regular driving route, and a lot of those people admit to speeding while driving in active school zones. In addition, many of these drivers encounter bus stops during their regular driving, and a significant amount have admitted to either driving around a school bus when it’s flashing its red lights, or cutting off a school bus because it’s driving too slow. This can pose as a threat to both drivers on the road and schoolchildren as well. Here are some tips to make sure you are properly driving around school buses.
- Prepare to stop at least 20 feet or more away from school buses when their red lights are flashing
- Prepare to stop when you see a school bus is slowing down and they have their overhead yellow lights flashing
- Prepare to slow down as you approach and in the middle of driving through school zones and residential areas as their speed limits are often slower
- Scan the road for clues that indicate children may be in the area such as safety patrols officers, crossing guards, bicycles, and playgrounds,
- Watch out for children between parked cars and other objects as this as pose as a driving hazard as well.
- There are many instances where it is illegal to pass a school bus, like when it is stopped with its flashing red lights, no-passing zones, within 100 feet of an intersection, and within 100 feet of a railroad crossing.
- Do not speed when passing.
- When you’re driving in a school zone or residential area, come to a complete stop at stop signs and do not roll through them.