Cars VS. School Buses? A Dangerous Mindset

Ask a bunch of school bus drivers what bothers them most while driving a bus; the answer will be almost unanimously “when drivers pass my bus when I have my ambers/reds on.” This makes drivers so angry because it puts the lives of the kids they care so much about in danger. Over 1,000 drivers ignore the School Bus Stopping Law in Pennsylvania each year (and probably many more go unreported), which unfortunately leads to children boarding their buses getting injured or killed.

Due to its reckless nature, the act of passing a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended is illegal in Pennsylvania; if convicted of this offense, you could get 5 points on your license, a $250 fine, and a 60-day suspension of your license. To read the actual PA Law, see here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=75&div=0&chpt=33&sctn=45&subsctn=0

So, what is the proper way to drive when you encounter school buses? Unless the amber or red flashing lights are on, treat school buses with respect as you would any large vehicle on the road. If you see the amber lights flashing, be prepared to stop your car. If you see the red lights flashing and stop arm extended, you MUST stop, whether you’re behind the bus or driving toward it in the opposite lane. If a bus is loading/unloading at an intersection, you must stop at the intersection regardless if you would normally have the right of way or not. You have to stop at least 10 feet away from the bus, and you need to wait until the lights stop flashing and all children are in a safe place before you start moving again.

These diagrams from PennDOT will help you visualize when and where to stop:

This brings us to the question of why do people not stop for buses with their ambers or reds on? Some people just might not know the proper procedures for driving safely around buses. If you were one of those people, hopefully this article helped you learn the proper way, avoid a run-in with the law, and protect children’s lives. However, many people know what to do, but knowingly break the law and endanger kids. Maybe they’re running late to work and they don’t want to let the countless buses on the road delay their commute. Maybe they’re just in a hurry to arrive at their destination, but putting others at risk for something comparatively so minor is not justifiable.

Regardless, knowing the rules of the road, especially regarding school buses, and following them is a civic duty. Driving is a huge responsibility, and every driver has a responsibility to protect the lives of others on and around the road. Students will be safe getting on and off their buses only when people abandon the mindset of them vs. other cars and buses on the road. This is a reminder to share the road and be mindful of other vehicles, especially ones that transport dozens of members of the future generation!

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