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What to do when you see a school bus
Remember that students are getting on or off a bus when it’s stopped and has its red flashing lights on. Since we don’t know if students will be crossing the street to get to or off the bus, we need to stop at least 10 feet away from the bus. That will give the students plenty of space to cross the street. Turner also wanted to remind us of these laws:
- Stop for flashing red lights on a school bus, regardless of which direction you’re headed on a two lane road.
- Continue your trip once the flashing lights stop and the bus starts to move.
- Violations can lead to a $1,000 fine.
Safety tips in school zones
Here are a few safety tips for motorists to help keep kids safe around school zones:
- Comply to the speed limit. School zones set low speed limits. Children may have difficulties judging the speed and distance of approaching vehicles and might suddenly dart out into the street.
- Pay attention to loading and unloading areas. While it feels tempting to pass a bus, stay still. Doing otherwise is against the law and may only lead to accidents. Also, fines are doubled in school zones.
- Be prepared to stop behind a school bus that is approaching railroad crossing. By law, bus drivers are responsible for stopping the bus and opening its door to listen for any train approaching the intersection.
- Again, watch out for kids. One moment they may be standing still along the sidewalks then the next moment they are darting across the street or between cars.
- For parents, educate your kids. Teach them the importance of traffic safety and help them become more cautious when walking around vehicles. Talk to them about the proper way to cross the street and getting on and off their school bus.
- Remind kids to never get in a car with a stranger and to respect their school bus driver.
Related: Kids Going Back-to-School, Drivers Should be More Cautious
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I would like to share this simple tip when crossing the street that is worth sharing to kids. Make sure that you see the driver and make eye contact. That way, you know that the driver has seen you. Finally, make sure to leave the house earlier during the first day of class. Roads are likely to be packed. We don’t want to get caught in heavy traffic and be late on the first day of school.