By Ursula Nizalowski
As children return to school, they will most likely be taking a bus to and from home. Now unlike regular buses, a school bus only transports kids with one or two supervising adults. But even then, children might not pay attention to traffic before boarding and/or stepping off the bus. For this reason, many states have strict guidelines for driving alongside school buses to prevent children from getting hurt in an accidental collision. It’s also up to the driver to take the necessary precautions when driving around school buses without suffering the severe consequences from not doing so.
What To Do
Stop When The Bus Does – No matter which state, the number one rule to driving behind school buses is to stop when they do. This is especially true when “you’re on the same side of the road as the bus in a residential or non-highway area” iDriveSafely says. For highways that have multiple lanes, though, only the vehicles behind the bus stop completely while the vehicles facing the bus from the opposite lane can proceed forward carefully.
Keep a Safe Distance – Like any vehicle, school buses need to have room so they can brake without crashing into other vehicles accidentally. And when children are moving to and from the bus, it’s even more important to give enough space so the children don’t get hurt. Thus, car drivers should be conscious of how far they are in relation to the school bus since “The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children” according to the National Safety Council.
Watch for Kids – Even if the school bus has unloaded its passengers, the driver should be cautious before moving ahead. Because kids can sometimes be unpredictable, tending to ignore hazards and take risks. This includes running into traffic and crossing the street at random moments, which the driver might want to keep an eye on to avoid any future accidents.
What Not To Do
Pass Bus When It’s Stopped – As a school bus halts, its red lights flash and an arm is extended out with a stop sign. This is telling the vehicles behind to not move until the red lights are off and the arm is retracted. But if a driver ignores these warnings and tries to pass the bus anyway, it could result in severe injuries and damage to both vehicles.
Go Over Speed Limit When Passing – In Colorado’s driving laws, many actions are
considered illegal. One of these actions is “Exceeding the speed limit when passing” a school bus as outlined in the Colorado Driver’s Handbook, which is quoted by 9News. Not only is this not allowed, but it’s also considered to be one of the leading causes of school bus-related accidents from 2018 to 2020 according to a Colorado State Patrol article.
Pass Bus Near Impassable Areas – Some other actions the Colorado Driver’s Handbook marks as illegal include: passing a school bus 100 feet from an intersection or railroad crossing, and on hills, curves, or bridges. That’s because intersections, bridges, and railroad crossings are considered a ‘No Passing Zone,’ meaning no vehicles can pass each other in this area. As for hilly roads or ones with curves, they create situations where a driver’s vision is limited which can be especially dangerous when a school bus is on the same road.
Consequences
Points – On a driving record, there are point suspensions that can be accumulated for every violation a driver commits. This applies to violating laws related to driving around school buses, which typically comes out to 6 points in total. And while that might not seem like a lot, it will quickly add up with each offense.
License/Insurance – Depending on the age of the driver, they could get their license suspended if they accumulate enough points from school bus-related incidents. For instance, the Colorado Department of Revenue says a minor driver under 17 years old only has to get “6 or more” points within a year to get suspended. And those with insurance will suffer just as much since their premium payments will have a large increase after they’ve been found guilty of breaking a driving law.
Fines – When it comes to any sort of illegal driving action, a fine is almost inevitable. And violating laws related to driving alongside school buses is no exception, with first-time offenders being billed in amounts of up to $300 and having to appear in court. This amount is not finite, though, as it can double if violations are committed more than once.
For any further questions on the school bus driving laws or accidents related to school buses, feel free to contact attorney Rick Wagner.