by David A. Kolman
With school back in session, more school buses will be on the road and more school children will be out and about. While there are rigid penalties to deter unsafe driving around school zones, the precious cargo being carried by the school buses should be the best motivation for careful driving.
Familiarize yourself with the rules of the road, and exercise extra caution. Use these suggestions to help you navigate in and around schools.
- Slow down and be extra vigilant.
- Watch out for children who may be playing near the street or walking to school. They may be fooling around and not minding traffic, and may dart out from between parked cars or shrubbery without looking.
- Follow all posted speed limits. Speed limits are 15 miles per hour in school zones, unless otherwise posted.
- Be aware of the flashing signal light system that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of their pending actions: Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load/unload children. Slow down and prepare to stop, regardless of your direction of travel. Red flashing lights and extended stop signal arms indicate that the bus has stopped and that children are getting on/off. You must stop and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop signal arms are withdrawn and the bus begins moving before you may start driving again. Stop at least 10 feet behind the bus.
- Each state is a little different regarding which vehicles must stop when a school bus is loading or unloading students. Some states allow vehicles to continue if the school bus is on the opposite side of a divided or multi-lane roadway. Know the law in the states you travel.
- Never pass on the right side of a school bus as doing so can have tragic results. Besides being illegal, this is where children enter and exit.
- After stopping for a school bus, watch for children along the side of the road. Drive slowly until you have passed them.
- Remember that all states require school buses to come to a complete stop at all railroad crossings.
A little exta care is all that's needed when entering these areas. Imagine how you would want drivers to conduct themselves when working around your own school-age children.
Then be sure that you do the same.
