It’s the time of the year when school buses will be filling the roadways transporting students to school on their first day back to classes for the new school year.
State law requires motorists to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off children. Watch for buses with the stop arm extended and red lights flashing. When this occurs, drivers are required to stop. A person who disregards a school bus stop arm commits a Class A Infraction and could receive a maximum fine of $10,000.
If a roadway is divided by a physical barrier or an unimproved median, vehicles that are traveling in the same direction as the school bus need to stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction do not need to stop if a school bus driver has activated the stop arm and red flashing lights.
Drivers should be aware of increased pedestrian traffic around bus stops and schools. Watch for children as they bike or walk to school.
