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basic tips

the school bus rules

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The general School Bus Rule:Undivided Roads and Highways

On undivided roads and highways (those without medians or barriers in the middle), the general rule is that if you are approaching a school bus that has stopped in the road, STOP! No matter which direction you are approaching the bus from, you MUST stop until at least one or more of the following things have occurred:

1. The school bus resumes motion; or

2. You are signaled by the school bus driver to proceed; or

3. The visual signal used by the bus (usually blinking lights) is turned off.

This rule applies to all roads that do not have driving medians or barriers. The rule applies to roads with turning lanes (these are not considered to be medians or barriers), and the rule applies no matter how many lanes the road has.

See specific examples and diagrams.

The general School Bus Rule:Divided Roads and Highways

The general rule for divided roads is slightly different. Remember, a turning lane does not make the road a divided road. A divided road is one that has a barrier or median. On a divided road or highway, only traffic going in the same direction as the bus is required to stop, but all lanes going in the same direction as the bus must still stop.

See specific examples and diagrams.

School Bus Stop Procedures

When a school bus driver stops the bus to pick up or drop off students, the driver is required to turn on all flashing warning signal lights and any other warning equipment installed on the bus. This is to alert other drivers that children will either be entering or leaving the bus.

Basic Tips

WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO PICK YOUR CHILDREN UP FROM THE BUS STOP, HAVE THEM WAIT AT THE BUS STOP FOR YOU. Do not make your children walk somewhere else to meet you, as this might require them to cross the street while the school bus is still there, and you cannot count on other drivers to know the rules and to stop for the school bus. Tragic accidents have happened in situations like this. Also, if your children have to walk somewhere, there is the extra danger that something will happen while they are walking along the road or crossing the street.

Even when the bus driver turns off the warning signals and allows you to continue driving, drive very slowly and carefully, as children may still run out in front of your car.

Even if you are not legally or technically required to stop for the school bus, be very careful and watch for children who may be on the road or crossing the street.

If you see a stopped school bus without its warning lights on, slow down to 5 or 10 miles per hour and be very careful, because children may attempt to cross the road. the bus driver may have forgotten to use the safety lights, or may have turned them off too soon.

If you drive up to children getting off a city bus (as compared to a yellow school bus), be just as careful. The bus may be different, but the children are the saem. Be just as careful as if it were a yellow school bus.

If you approach a school bus on the highway, be careful and be patient. Remember that the speed limit for a school bus is lower than for other vehicles.

Remember that we all must work together to protect our children. Expect the unexpected. Children can dart into the street from between cars or in front of the stopped school bus. They may not remember to look both ways for traffic before they start to cross the street. They often pop up in unexpected places. Be extremely cautious when you are driving anywhere children are likely to be.

Their lives depend on you.