School buses are a safe, reliable means for parents to transport their children to and from school. In fact, roughly 20.5 million elementary and secondary school children ride school buses to and from school each day.

It’s necessary for all drivers on the road to understand these safety measures when driving with school buses to keep our children safe:

1. Stop for School Buses

The most dangerous points of a child’s journey to school are when getting on and off the bus, not traveling on the bus itself. Stopping for a school bus helps protect children crossing the road. All states have their own laws regarding stopping for a school bus, but as a general rule, you should:

• Slow down when yellow lights start flashing. Never try to pass a bus before it stops. All states want you to slow down and prepare to stop when a bus engages the yellow flashing lights.
• STOP when the red lights flash. Every state is different, but you should stop anywhere from 20 to 100 feet from the bus.
• Proceed with caution after the lights turn off. Be sure to use caution as you accelerate again and look for any running children.

*Safety Tip: You must stop for a bus regardless of if a “stop arm” sign extends outward when the bus comes to a stop. Some buses do not come equipped with one, and some may experience a malfunction. ALWAYS STOP for a bus when you see red flashing lights.

2. Avoid Blind Spots

Avoid lingering in blind spots. If you can’t see a bus driver’s face in the mirror, they probably won’t see you. Drivers must be aware that buses have a blind spot immediately below and in front of each mirror, and directly in the back of the rear bumper.

3. Prepare for Long Stopping Distances

Buses need extra space to stop safely, approximately up to the length of two football fields of space! Leave extra space when merging in front of buses to ensure they have enough time to stop.

4. Anticipate Wide Turns

School buses may need extra space to make wide turns carefully, so give them additional time to complete their turn before proceeding with yours. Be cautious of buses turning right, as they may move left first to create enough turning space before turning right.

5. Be Patient

It’s easy to succumb to road rage when following behind buses, trucks, farm machinery, etc. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that aggressive driving played a role in 56% of fatal crashes over a five-year period – that’s over half of all fatal crashes! Aggressive driving can be prevented.

It’s important to be considerate of the precious cargo being carried in front of you. Try to breathe, relax, and reassure yourself you will get where you’re going, and so will the children on the bus.

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Failing to stop for a school bus can result in several penalties, including:

• Tickets and fines
• Driving safety classes
• Community service time
• Points on your driving record
• Increased car insurance rates
• Suspension or loss of your driver’s license
• Misdemeanor or felony charges (which may also include jail or prison time)

We all have to work together to keep our roads safe for children that utilize the school bus system to make it to and from school. For more tips on driving safety, visit our On the Road Blog section!