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You should slow down to lessen the effect of the wind, or pull off the roadway and wait. Michigan School Bus Laws - Look at the Lights. It is important that the school bus driver understands and obeys state and local laws and regulations. It does not matter how many lanes the road has. If the school bus is on a street with a raised or center median, or with more . If you need it, ABS could help prevent a serious accident. Join waiting students. Readers ask: When Is The Next Mta Bus Operator Exam? 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or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. You should walk through the bus and around the bus to look for the following: Any problems or special situations should be reported immediately to your supervisor or school authorities. Post a lookout. Proper adjustment and use of all mirrors is vital to the safe operation of the school bus in order to observe the danger zone around the bus and look for students, traffic, and other objects in this area. Determine if evacuation is in the best interest of safety. 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. Yellow or amber lights before the bus stops, and red lights go on when it has stopped. Generally, you can pass a school bus in Michigan if it is in motion or its red lights are not flashing. The minimum fine for failing to stop for a school bus is $250. Pavement markings mean the same as the advance warning sign. The penalty for failure to stop for a school bus goes from a minimum $100 to $200 and if a second offense is committed in 5 years, the person's license will be suspended for up to 1 year. When unloading at the school, you should follow these procedures: Dropped or Forgotten Objects. Lead students as far away from railroad tracks as possible and in the direction of any oncoming train. Be alert. If possible, know the names of students at each stop. 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 position of the bus may change and increase the danger. Solid YellowA yellow traffic signal light means CAUTION. The red traffic signal light is about to appear. Learn the laws and rules of the road in preparation for your drive and knowledge tests. Always do a pre-trip inspection prior to every run to check for mechanical defects that could jeopardize safety. The front of the rear tires touching the ground. Continue once the bus has moved, the flashing lights stop flashing, or the bus driver signals it's okay to pass. 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. Drivers who illegally pass a school bus face fines up to $1,250 for the first offense. 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. You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. Obstructed View of Tracks. Troopers didn't say how far beyond the 45-mph limit the driver may have been going. For more information, please call 1-800-CAR-BELT. Students should be told to leave any dropped object and move to a point of safety out of the danger zones and attempt to get the drivers attention to retrieve the object. Be sure to provide adequate instruction so that every student is familiar with school bus emergency procedures and equipment use, as well as the safe loading and unloading procedures. At the School Transportation Safety Committee meeting in Pinellas County in October, the county's transportation director said they were working with the school board and the transportation staff to evaluate options for crossing locations along Belleair Road. Use caution when using a public computer or device. The danger zone is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of being hit, either by another vehicle or their own bus. To translate this page, please You must use the exterior side mirrors to monitor traffic that approaches and enters this area. Protect the scene. Passive crossings have yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement markings, and crossbucks to assist you in recognizing a crossing. When should you activate your alternating flashing amber warning lights? Slow down in or near school and residential areas. michigan school bus rules Verified 2 days ago Remember, in addition to picking up and dropping off students, school buses are required by law to stop at railroad crossings. Drivers must stay stopped until the red lights are off. In addition, a stop arm with flashing red lights extends out on the left side of the bus. So attempting to speed up and pass the bus is an absolute violation of the law. The purpose of the lookout is to warn you about obstacles, approaching persons, and other vehicles. The content currently in English is the official and accurate source for the program information and services DMV provides. Remain stopped until the gates go up and the lights have stopped flashing. Look for pedestrians, traffic, or other objects before, during, and after coming to a stop. Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing? You can prevent school bus/train accidents by following these recommended procedures. Once it pulls away from a stop and its lights stop flashing, it's perfectly fine to pass. Each state has different laws concerning when it is legal/illegal to pass a stopped school bus. Dangle the radio microphone or telephone out of the drivers window and take your cell phone for later use, if operable. 200 feet or 4 bus lengths behind the bus. Count the number of students while unloading to confirm the location of all students before pulling away from the stop. The dome light should be on while loading in the dark. If you cannot account for a student, secure the bus, take the key, and check around and underneath the bus. There may be a white stop line painted on the pavement before the railroad tracks. They are used to monitor traffic, check clearances, and check for students on the sides and to the rear of the bus. For more information, please visit the Operation Lifesaver website. In Florida, drivers cannot pass a bus displaying the stop signal. These rules help you play your part in keeping the children safe and may vary from state to state, although there are some commonalities among them. Would moving students complicate injuries such as neck and back injuries and fractures? The entire area in front of the bus from the front bumper at ground level to a point where direct vision is possible. Observe the students as they step from the bus to see that they all move promptly away from the unloading area. Be certain the bus has enough containment or storage area to completely clear the railroad tracks on the other side if there is a need to stop. Pennsylvania law prohibits any items including students from barricading the aisles and the emergency exit. The red lights should be a sign that children are in the area and vehicles should be stopped. When approaching a school bus traveling in the opposite direction, a driver must slow the vehicle to 20 miles per hour or less when yellow lights are seen, and be prepared to stop when the stop arm is extended and red lights flash. . ABS will help maintain vehicle control, but not always shorten stopping distance. The area from the front of the bus to the service door. It is important for drivers to know how to react to a school bus in operation. If possible, the drivers should get identifying information regarding the vehicle and file the information with local authorities. Never put a student off the bus except at school or their designated school bus stop. Do not show anger, but do show that you mean business. Stop your vehicle and wait until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the driver or police officer to proceed. What does it mean if a school bus has flashing amber lights flashing? Required fields are marked *. Drivers must stay stopped until the red lights are off. They keep flashing for about 30 seconds after the door closes and continue even after the bus moves off. What do flashing lights on bus mean? Check all mirrors again. Drivers who speed past a school bus will not avoid a ticket. When amber lights begin flashing on top of a school bus, they mean that the school bus is slowing down and preparing to stop. ABS helps you avoid wheel lock up and maintain control. A warning will be given by the school bus at least 100 feet (200 feet in rural areas) in advance of a stop. Bus Stalls or Is Trapped on the Tracks. Have the students board the school bus slowly, in single file, and use the handrail. 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. Some school buses are equipped with roof-mounted, white strobe lights. Approaching the bus from the rear: When approaching from the rear, the rules are the same as for a two- or three- lane road. Make certain no one is running to catch the bus. Our online ordering system makes it easy. 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. The driver shall use an approved, hand-held STOP sign while escorting all students. Under S. 175 (11,12) of the Highway Traffic Act, if the school bus is stopped and has its overhead red lights flashing, drivers who are "meeting" the bus must stop before reaching it and must not . So whether youre behind the bus or in the next lane, you should stop. If there is a student missing, ask the other students where the student is. Penalties for Failing to Stop for a School Bus in Virginia. You should never change the location of a bus stop without written approval from the appropriate school district official. 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. Turn on the right turn signal indicator about 100-300 feet or approximately 3-5 seconds before pulling over. Check all mirrors. Remaining stopped until the bus starts moving or turns off the flashing red lights. Wait until students are seated and facing forward before moving the bus. According to California Vehicle Code 22454, all vehicles traveling in either direction must stop when a school bus is flashing its red lights and remain stopped as long as the red lights remain lit and/or flashing . However, a school bus does not have the slightest edge when involved in an accident with a train. Make sure no students are around or returning to the 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. Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus. The term overtaking means when cars are moving in the same direction. Sometimes, it may be safer to remain on the bus and not come in contact with the material. You should back your bus only when you have no other safe way to move the vehicle. Tell students to exit the bus and walk at least 10 feet away from the side of the bus to a position where the driver can plainly see all students. Air brake vehicle, (trucks, buses, trailers, and converter dollies) built on or after March 1, 1998. Drivers who illegally pass a bus face up to a $1,000 fine and could have their license suspended for one year. This is particularly true if the bus is stopped in a loading zone since pedestrians arent permitted to cross. For instance, you might be required to stop your vehicle if a school bus is stopped on the side of the road. They are used to see the front bumper danger zone area directly in front of the bus that is not visible by direct vision, and the danger zone area to the left and right side of the bus, including the service door and front wheel area. Yellow flashing lights on the front and back indicate a bus is about to stop to load or unload students, so motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop. Children can get so excited at seeing you after school they might forget safety rules and dash across the street. Repeat offenders can face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 180 days in jail. What documents do you need to get an AB 60 license? Wisconsin Department of Transportation School bus laws School bus laws A vehicle that approaches a stopped school bus that is displaying flashing red warning lights, must stop not less than 20 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the operator extinguishes the flashing red warning lights. (1) The operator of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus that has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately . When a moving school bus displays flashing yellow lights, this usually means they are preparing to stop to load or unload children. The DMV chatbot and live chat services use third-party vendors to provide machine translation. We take pride in being good lawyers who help people. This section will give you specific procedures to help you avoid unsafe conditions that could result in injuries and fatalities during and after loading and unloading students. The DMV is unable to guarantee the accuracy of any translation provided by Google Translate and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information or changes in the formatting of the pages resulting from the use of the translation application tool. This will keep the students from being hit by debris if another vehicle collides with the bus. As a general rule, add 15 feet to the length of the school bus to determine an acceptable amount of containment or storage area. Don't start driving until the red lights stop flashing. August 31, 2022 by Steven M. Gursten. Here are the rules: If you're on a two-lane road, both directions need to stop. As you slow down, monitor your bus and back off the brakes (if it is safe to do so) to stay in control. What must a driver do at a flashing yellow light? If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet or approximately 510 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law. If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet or approximately 5-10 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law. Avoid areas that are subject to flash floods. Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.Red flashing lights mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Drivers must stop in both directions, unless separated from the bus by a median. See Figure 10.5. des moines, ia, u.s. - traffic crash involving school bus and . 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. Red flashing lights indicate that the bus is stopped and students are getting on or off. Allow you to drive faster, follow more closely, or drive less carefully. As the yellow lights come on the speed limit is reduced to 20mph, regardless of what the street signs say. Each school district establishes official routes and school bus stops. Drivers who illegally pass a bus face up to a $1,000 fine and could have their license suspended for one year. When engaged, these light will flash simultaneously. Kids are back in school, school zone lights are flashing, and the police are out in force enforcing the law in school zones. It is also an opportunity to honor the many school bus drivers that safely transport students to and from school every day. This type of crossing does not have any type of traffic control device. Each year, PennDOT participates in National School Bus Safety Week, which will be celebrated this year from Oct. 18-22, 2021. Set out emergency warning devices as necessary and appropriate. 1. You must use extreme caution when approaching a school bus stop. According to Texas law, drivers have to stop when a school bus extends its stop sign or when it turns on its flashing red lights. Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. The specific procedures required in each state vary. Each year, PennDOT sponsors a school bus safety poster contest for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. 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.