Will you be more careful now that you know the 20ft rule? On a two lane road or if you're on a one lane road passing them going the same way, it . If your bus stalls or is trapped on the tracks, get everyone out and off the tracks immediately. What must a driver do at a flashing yellow light? An emergency situation can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. When a school bus is stopped on a highway or private road for the purpose of loading or unloading pupils, at a location where traffic is not controlled by a traffic officer or official traffic control signal, the school bus driver shall do all of the following: The school bus driver should enforce any state or local regulations or recommendations concerning student actions outside the school bus. These mirrors, along with the convex and flat mirrors, should be viewed in a logical sequence to ensure that a child or object is not in any of the danger zones. Lead students as far away from railroad tracks as possible and in the direction of any oncoming train. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. If you see flashing yellow lights, that means the school bus is about to stop. The convex mirrors are located below the outside flat mirrors. At Murphy & Prachthauser we practice personal injury law the way it should be practiced motivated and equipped to do our best for you. When a school bus has its red flashing lights on and its stop arms extended, students are either getting off . If you have a case you would like to speak to a lawyer about, please contact us to schedule a free consultation and get an experienced team of lawyers working on your behalf. This is to warn you that children might be crossing. The entire area in front of the bus from the front bumper at ground level to a point where direct vision is possible. Have the students board the school bus slowly, in single file, and use the handrail. . Be prepared to act appropriately in emergency and crash situations. Penalties for Failing to Stop for a School Bus in Virginia. What happens if you pass a school bus with flashing lights? This type of crossing does not have any type of traffic control device. For more information about Love the Bus, visit Love the Bus. According to California law, drivers must stop when a school bus stops in front of them and extends its stop sign with flashing lights. Even if there are active railroad signals that indicate the tracks are clear, you must look and listen to be sure it is safe to proceed. These mirrors present a view of people and objects that does not accurately reflect their size and distance from the bus. Passive crossings have yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement markings, and crossbucks to assist you in recognizing a crossing. The Governors Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) reports that in New York State, 2.3 million children are transported by more than 50,000 school buses annually. The outside convex mirrors? According to The Bellingham Herald, the general rule is that drivers overtaking or meeting a school bus thats stopped on the side of the road and has activated a visual signal shall stop before reaching it. Stopping closer than 20ft away from a school bus constitutes a violation of Wisconsin law and could result in a citation or worse, if someone gets hurt. Always obey your school bus driver's instructions, so that he or she can make safe decisions. First of all, slow down. Children can be unpredictable and may try to cross the road when its not safe to do so. This forces the students to walk to the bus so you have a better view of their movements. Where should students walk to after exiting the bus? The bus is stalled on or adjacent to a railroad-highway crossing. Bus drivers are required to turn on the flashing red lights at any time the students are getting onto or off of the bus. Generally, if a stopped school bus is displaying a flashing, alternating red lamp, a driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking the stopped bus from either direction (front or back) must stop and wait until the bus moves again or the red light is off. There may be a white stop line painted on the pavement before the railroad tracks. There is also a no passing zone sign on 2-lane roads. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. There is a blind spot immediately below and in front of each mirror and directly in back of the rear bumper. These mirrors are mounted at the left and right front corners of the bus at the side or front of the windshield. However, a school bus does not have the slightest edge when involved in an accident with a train. Check out this graphic that helps illustrate Pennsylvania's school bus stopping law. Chapter 33 - Rules of the Road in General 3345 - Meeting or overtaking school bus. Watch for children crossing the road in front of, or behind the school bus. Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing? More students are killed while getting on or off a school bus each year than are killed as passengers inside of a school bus. If you see flashing red lights, that means the bus has stopped and is loading or unloading . Knowing what to do in an emergencybefore, during, and after an evacuationcan mean the difference between life and death. If the school bus is on a street with a raised or center median, or with more . In addition, a stop arm with flashing red lights extends out on the left side of the bus. Drivers must remain stopped until the school bus resumes moving down the road or turns off its red . Can you pass a bus with flashing yellow lights? As a result, knowing what to do before, during, and after loading or unloading students is critical. Assign another student assistant to lead the students to a safe place after evacuation. If there is a student missing, ask the other students where the student is. A school bus will have alternating flashing lights and a mechanical stop-sign arm extended while passengers are entering or leaving the bus. At many railroad-highway crossings, the crossbuck sign has flashing red lights and bells. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. So whether youre behind the bus or in the next lane, you should stop. The blind spot behind the bus extends 50 to 150 feet and could extend up to 400 feet depending on the length and width of the bus. Practice here. When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on a four lane two way roadway which lanes must stop? And every time someone doesn't stop for the bus, a child's life is at risk. (1) The operator of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus that has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately . According to the Ontario government, drivers who ignore the red flashing lights or the school bus's stop arm, can face a hefty fine from $400 to $2,000 if it's their first offence. Other states with similar rules include West Virginia, Arkansas, and Mississippi. These children, though they represent less than 35% of the student population, were involved in 69% of the fatalities (79 out of 114). Be alert. When a school bus is flashing its red overhead lights? If you must back up at a student drop off point, be sure to unload students after backing. As a general rule, a driver should not get any closer than 20 feet to a school bus that has stopped with red lights flashing. When the bus stops, red lights on the top of the bus will begin flashing, signaling drivers that children are entering or exiting the bus and may be crossing the street. With school starting Thursday, Sept. 8 in the Kent School District, it's a good time to review the rules for drivers and stopping for school buses. The driver of a vehicle on meeting, from either direction, any school bus flashing red lights must stop the vehicle at no closer than 15 feet before reaching the school bus. . I'm the NYS DMV Virtual Agent, Click me for assistance. However, vehicles moving in the opposite direction can pass if theres a raised barrier or an unpaved median five feet or larger. Follow your schools procedures for discipline or refusal of rights to ride the bus. Drive and brake as you always have. The purpose of the lookout is to warn you about obstacles, approaching persons, and other vehicles. Generally, you can pass a school bus in Michigan if it is in motion or its red lights are not flashing. Be extra careful to look around before moving your vehicle, as children may be walking in front of, behind, or on the side of school buses. When approaching from the opposite . Wisconsin Statute section 346.48 tells operators of vehicles what to do when approaching a school bus when the bus is displaying flashing red lights. Dangle the radio microphone or telephone out of the drivers window and take your cell phone for later use, if operable. Is the bus in the path of a sighted tornado or rising waters? Even if the bus driver waves you ahead, you should still remain vigilant and keep to slower speeds. Bus Stalls or Is Trapped on the Tracks. Proceed when it is safe. If you're behind it, it's illegal to pass on the right side. The side of a school bus acts like a sail on a sailboat. When your chat is over, you can save the transcript. To attract attention, most school buses display flashing amber or red lights, or a lowered "STOP" arm when stopped. It requires you to yield the right-of-way to the train. When possible, assign 2 older, responsible student assistants to each emergency exit. Hi! When a school bus comes to a stop and activates its red flashing lights, drivers traveling in both directions are required to come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from the school bus. Each year, during National School Bus Safety Week, PennDOT works with Pennsylvania State and municipal police departments to conduct Operation Safe Stop. Remember, in addition to picking up and dropping off students, school buses are required by law to stop at railroad crossings. Copyright 2020 Murphy & Prachthauser, SC - All Rights Reserved - Milwaukee Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers |, Defective and Dangerous Product Attorneys. Ensure that the mirrors are properly adjusted so you can see: Figure 10.2 shows how both the outside left and right side flat mirrors should be adjusted. Position yourself to supervise unloading. You should never back a school bus when students are outside of the bus. Even though there are safety guidelines for boarding the bus, driving near school buses comes with different rules than regular traffic. Any roadway, highway, private road or parking lot located on school property. This mirror is mounted directly above the windshield on the drivers side area of the bus. And if you drive, there's no doubt you will encounter FCPS and private school buses. Be sure to follow local procedures. Your actions could mean the difference between life and death. Activate the alternating red lights when traffic is a safe distance from the school bus and ensure the stop arm is extended. These questions may be on your test. When you brake hard on slippery surfaces in a vehicle without ABS, your wheels may lock up. How far does the danger zone extend around the bus? When the road crosses over more than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of tracks. As of July 1, 2018, it is required that a passenger in a bus equipped with seat belts to be properly restrained by a safety belt. Driving Rules Near School Buses. on a highway or trafficway shall stop at least ten feet before reaching the school bus when the red signal lights on the school bus are flashing and the side stop signal arms are activated under section 4552(b.1) (relating to general requirements for school . What is a passive railroad-highway crossing? California Vehicle Code 22454 (a) prohibits a driver from passing a school bus when: The bus is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading any school children; and, The bus displays flashing red lights and/or a stop signal . Painted lines and pavement markings do not count. Approximately 100 school bus drivers from across Pennsylvania participate in the competition each year. The Pupil Transportation Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association hold a Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safe Driving Competition every June to test school bus drivers' knowledge of safety rules and safe operation of their buses in two types of bus categories: conventional and transit. It does not matter how many lanes the road has. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, transportation personnel and the motoring public all play important roles in keeping our children safe while on or around the school bus. In order to get students to and from school safely and on time, you need to be able to concentrate on the driving task. Plan your route so it provides maximum sight distance at railroad-highway crossings. Below are examples of school bus laws according to Drive-Safety in different heavily populated states where some minor differences might crop up. If you have ever been stuck behind a school bus, you might have noticed that some buses are equipped with both yellow and red flashing lights. Why should you be extra cautious at this type of crossing? All stops should be approved by the school district prior to making the stop. Effective August 19, 2019, the new school bus camera law authorizes school districts and municipalities to use stop-arm cameras on school buses to hold vehicle owners . The statute requires: Following these two rules will allow for safer drivers, safer children and safer neighborhoods. The fine for passing a school bus with its red lights flashing is $402 . Violations can lead to a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense. Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road. When your route or school activity trip is finished, you should conduct a post-trip inspection of the bus. A CLP holder with a P and/or an S endorsement is prohibited from operating a CMV with passengers, other than federal/state auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the accompanying CDL holder (CFR, Title 49 383.25).
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