August 31, 2022 by Steven M. Gursten. The winners of the poster contest are recognized at an event in Harrisburg held every October as part of National School Bus Safety Week. Children ages 4 to 8 (grades K-3) are most susceptible to a school bus fatality. These children, though they represent less than 35% of the student population, were involved in 69% of the fatalities (79 out of 114). These mirrors are mounted at the left and right front corners of the bus at the side or front of the windshield. 200 feet or 4 bus lengths behind the bus. Do not show anger, but do show that you mean business. Obstructed View of Tracks. If the gate stays down after the train passes, do not drive around the gate. This is becoming a concern in School District No. As a general rule, student safety and control is best maintained by keeping students on the bus during an emergency and/or impending crisis situation, if it does not expose them to unnecessary risk or injury. Necessarily shorten stopping distance. Pennsylvania law prohibits any items including students from barricading the aisles and the emergency exit. If the bus is in the direct path of a sighted tornado and evacuation is ordered, escort students to a nearby ditch or culvert if shelter in a building is not readily available, and direct them to lie face down, hands covering their head. If you must back up at a student pick up point, be sure to pick up students before backing and watch for late comers at all times. Make sure no students are around or returning to the bus. Also, if there are still children on the side of the road, you have to drive slowly until youre past them. A school bus driver shall not actuate the visual signals or the stop warning sign in designated school bus loading areas where the bus is entirely off the roadway or at school buildings when children or persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities are loading or unloading Brake the same way, regardless of whether you have ABS on the bus. If you're on a road with three or more lanes, you need to stop if you're traveling in the same direction as the bus. It's that time of year again. How do you promote a culture of safety in your home or place of work? And if you drive, there's no doubt you will encounter FCPS and private school buses. Have the students remain seated until told to exit. Stopping to pick up the object or returning to pick up the object may cause the student to disappear from the drivers sight at a very dangerous moment. The driver must ensure that these mirrors are properly adjusted. This sign marks the crossing. After unloading all children at the school or after your last stop, make sure to do a post-trip of your bus and check to make sure that no child has been left on the bus. Remember, the decision to evacuate the bus must be a timely one. You must use the exterior side mirrors to monitor traffic that approaches and enters this area. When all students are accounted for, prepare to leave by: When it is safe, move the bus, enter the traffic flow, and continue the route. When engaged, these light will flash simultaneously. Here are some of the major Texas school bus laws you need to be aware of: It is illegal (in all 50 states, actually) to pass a school bus actively loading or unloading passengers. How Far Away Should I Stop for a School Bus? Each school district establishes official routes and school bus stops. Lights begin to flash when the bus stops and the doors open, and they keep flashing for about 20 seconds after the doors close. The bus is stalled on or adjacent to a railroad-highway crossing. Drivers need to be aware of that," Peterborough County OPP constable Joe Ayotte said. How many feet around a school bus is considered the danger zone? When you approach a school bus with flashing red lights from either direction What should you do? Get to the school bus stop five minutes early so you won't have to run across the road to catch the bus. If there is a student missing, ask the other students where the student is. 257.682 Stopping for school bus displaying flashing red lights; violation as civil infraction; meeting stopped school bus on divided highway; proof; rebuttable presumption; use of stop-arm camera system; definitions. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. If possible, know the names of students at each stop. Find professional School Bus Flashing Lights videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. Pavement markings mean the same as the advance warning sign. If a police officer is at the crossing, obey directions. Backing is dangerous and increases your risk of an accident. 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 . Many railroad-highway crossings have gates with flashing red lights and bells. Strong winds affect the handling of the school bus! This mirror is mounted directly above the windshield on the drivers side area of the bus. This translation application tool is provided for purposes of information and convenience only. How far from the nearest rail should you stop at a railroad-highway crossing? When interacting with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Virtual Assistant, please do not include any personal information. Whenever drivers are in the presence of school buses, they should be where they can stop at any time. The driver may not see you and begin moving the bus. Keystone State. The penalty for passing a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal goes from a minimum of $200 to $400 . School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement Approved Systems (PDF), School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement System Approval Requirements (PDF), Operation Safe Stop - Public Participation Information (PDF), Operation Safe Stop - Law Enforcement Participation Information (PDF), PennDOT School Bus Safety Poster Contest Guidelines (PDF), National Association for Pupil Transportation. Drivers must stop in both directions, unless separated from the bus by a median. Police officers, school crossing guards, and even school bus drivers themselves may have the . Passive crossings have yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement markings, and crossbucks to assist you in recognizing a crossing. When a school bus is flashing its red overhead lights? Walk through the bus to check for hiding/sleeping students and items left by students. School bus safety is a high priority in Pennsylvania. 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.Laws protect students who are getting on and off a school bus by making it illegal for drivers to pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and the red lights on the school bus are flashing, regardless of the direction of approach. RELATED SCHOOL CONTENT: Sacramento approves. When amber lights begin flashing on top of a school bus, they mean that the school bus is slowing down and preparing to stop. It does not matter how many lanes the road has. Each state has different laws concerning when it is legal/illegal to pass a stopped school bus. Like most other states, school bus rules in Texas dictate you stop if you see the flashing red lights. Knowing what to do in an emergencybefore, during, and after an evacuationcan mean the difference between life and death. Follow your schools procedures for discipline or refusal of rights to ride the bus. The DMV is unable to guarantee the accuracy of any translation provided by the third-party vendors and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information or changes in the formatting of the content resulting from the use of the translation service. Bus drivers dont just stop before turning the red lights on. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Observe the students as they step from the bus to see that they all move promptly away from the unloading area. Drive and brake as you always have. When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction. Position yourself to supervise unloading. After that, you only start moving when the bus has removed the visual signal by retracting the stop sign or stopping the flashing red lights. from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights whether or not you are traveling in the same direction as the bus. Is the bus in the path of a sighted tornado or rising waters? As a system check on newer vehicles, the malfunction lamp comes on at start-up for a bulb check and then goes out quickly. 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 . Readers ask: When Is The Next Mta Bus Operator Exam? When travelling in school zones, drivers must pay attention to the posted signs. For more information about Love the Bus, visit Love the Bus. Every school bus shall be equipped with a crossview mirror mounted on the front exterior of the bus to provide the seated driver with a clear view of the area directly in front of the bus (CCR, Title 13 1258). The front of the school bus must remain behind this line while stopped at the crossing. Determine if evacuation is in the best interest of safety. Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop. Under normal brake conditions, your vehicle will stop as it always stopped. Why School Bus Rules Of The Road Matter To You. The position of the bus may change and increase the danger. Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you. As such, we wanted to help you understand the Wisconsin statutes pertaining to school buses and explain how the laws may affect you. Allow you to drive faster, follow more closely, or drive less carefully. The convex mirrors are located below the outside flat mirrors. There are currently road test cancellations or DMV offices closed for in-person services. Students have been injured or killed when clothing, accessories, or even parts of their body are caught in the handrail or door as they exited the bus. If you see flashing red lights, that means the bus has stopped and is loading or unloading . According to Florida Statute 316.172, you must stop when approaching any school bus that displays the stop signal and has its red lights flashing. Drivers who illegally pass a bus face up to a $1,000 fine and could have their license suspended for one year. But some regulations are a little bit more obscure. Fatal crashes involving students who were struck by passing motorists typically involved one or more of the following factors: Vehicle Operators - There are legal and financial consequences for vehicle operators who pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and red lights on the school bus are flashing. Look up the status of an active OL permit holder. Your email address will not be published. Check all mirrors. Check to make sure all of the children unloading from the bus are at a place of safety before deactivating your eight-way light system and moving the school bus. The Wisconsin Rules of the Road are designed to protect drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. Bring the school bus to a full stop with the front bumper at least 10 feet away from students at the designated stop. You must remain stopped until the school bus. If necessary, pull the bus over to handle the problem. If you're going the opposite direction, though, passing a school bus with flashing yellow lights is okay. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or driveway. You should never back a school bus when students are outside of the bus. Approach cautiously at a slow rate of speed. These mirrors present a view of people and objects that does not accurately reflect their size and distance from the bus. Vehicles with ABS have yellow malfunction lamps to tell you if something is not working. This requirement applies to all vehicles moving in either direction. The specific procedures required in each state vary. (See Figure A) 2) Stop at least 25 feet from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights if you are on a divided highway and on the same side of the highway as the school bus. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Remember, in addition to picking up and dropping off students, school buses are required by law to stop at railroad crossings. Watch for children crossing the road in front of, or behind the school bus. Direct a student assistant to lead students to the nearest safe place. The motorist, demonstrating disregard for the law and/or childrens safety, did not stop for the flashing red lights. A safe place will be at least 100 feet off the road in the direction of oncoming traffic. As you slow down, monitor your bus and back off the brakes (if it is safe to do so) to stay in control. You are loading students along the route. Look for pedestrians, traffic, or other objects before, during, and after coming to a stop. Air brake vehicle, (trucks, buses, trailers, and converter dollies) built on or after March 1, 1998. Be alert. The driver may not proceed until the flashing red lights are no longer activated. 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. Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders. *Five points will be added to theoperator's driving record for each conviction. When you see flashing red or amber warning lights, you are not permitted to pass the school bus and should be prepared to stop. Use strobe lights only when visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less due to atmospheric conditions including, but not limited to, fog, rain, snow, smoke, or dust (CVC 25257.7). What does it mean when a school bus is stopped and its red lights are flashing quizlet? The term overtaking means when cars are moving in the same direction. If you that the offense is serious enough that you cannot safely drive the bus, call a school administrator or the police to come and remove the student. The violation is considered reckless driving and could be subject to a $2,500 fine. Watch for lane changes! Watch for children - they can come from all directions, especially if they're running late. Learn the school bus laws in your state and always follow them, as well as the flashing lights that school bus drivers use to alert you. You should never change the location of a bus stop without written approval from the appropriate school district official. When that happens, drivers in both directions must come to. The statute requires: Following these two rules will allow for safer drivers, safer children and safer neighborhoods. And at that time you're not supposed to pass them. Loading and unloading requires all your concentration. When a school bus has the stop sign out and the red lights flashing, drivers are required to stop: on two lane, undivided roads, in both directions. It requires you to yield the right-of-way to the train. Children can get so excited at seeing you after school they might forget safety rules and dash across the street. You need to check your mirrors before and during any turning movements to monitor the tail swing. Our online ordering system makes it easy. When approaching a crossing with a signal or stop sign on the opposite side, pay attention to the amount of room there. ABS only comes into play when a wheel would normally have locked up because of over braking. Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children. These lights could be malfunctioning. When a school bus has its red flashing lights on and its stop arms extended, students are either getting off . What position should students be in, in front of the bus, before they cross the roadway? The theme for this year is "1 Bus + 1 Driver = a BIG Impact on Education." There is an imminent danger of an accident. Yellow or amber lights before the bus stops, and red lights go on when it has stopped. Bus drivers are required to turn on the flashing red lights at any time the students are getting onto or off of the bus. Second violation within 18 months - penalty of $275, Third violation (or more) within 18 months - penalty of $300. As the yellow lights come on the speed limit is reduced to 20mph, regardless of what the street signs say. Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.Red flashing lights mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. This also applies to highways where vehicles are traveling in both directions. Penalties for Failing to Stop for a School Bus in Virginia. You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. The side of a school bus acts like a sail on a sailboat. ABS helps you avoid wheel lock up and maintain control. Tips for students After unloading at school, why should you walk through the bus? If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. It is imperative that you learn and obey Californias laws and regulations governing loading/unloading operations. (See Figure B) Buses should be treated differently than you would treat an average-sized vehicle.