A school bus will turn on flashing yellow lights to warn drivers to slow down and be ready to stop. According to California law, drivers must stop when a school bus stops in front of them and extends its stop sign with flashing lights. Apply for a license or ID card (including REAL ID). Tips for students Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.Red flashing lights mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Make certain no one is running to catch the bus. Approximately 100 school bus drivers from across Pennsylvania participate in the competition each year. When a school bus comes to a stop and activates its red flashing lights, drivers traveling in both directions are required to come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from the school bus. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop, load or unload children. It is also an opportunity to honor the many school bus drivers that safely transport students to and from school every day. Take the ignition key with you if you leave your seat. Where should students walk to after exiting the bus? Be aware cross with care! Any roadway, highway, private road or parking lot located on school property. Approaching the bus from the rear: When approaching from the rear, the rules are the same as for a two- or three- lane road. Students may drop an object near the bus during loading and unloading. Instead, they flash warning lights near the buss roof to prompt you to reduce your speed and prepare to stop. This law is in place whether you are following the bus or approaching from the opposite direction and allows students to leave the bus safely. In order to get students to and from school safely and on time, you need to be able to concentrate on the driving task. You are in a very demanding situation when entering these areas. Other states with similar rules include West Virginia, Arkansas, and Mississippi. What Is The Difference Between Red Lights and Yellow Lights On School Buses? You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. As the weather gets warmer and the school year winds down, children are even more excited to get home from school and play outside with their friends. If you're approaching a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights, it is unlawful to pass it, even if the bus driver hasn't . The content currently in English is the official and accurate source for the program information and services DMV provides. Children can get so excited at seeing you after school they might forget safety rules and dash across the street. They can even move the school bus off the road or, in extreme conditions, tip it over. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Always do a pre-trip inspection prior to every run to check for mechanical defects that could jeopardize safety. The violation is considered reckless driving and could be subject to a $2,500 fine. And then when they're actually stopped, they're red. Figure 10.1 illustrates these danger zones. If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. If the gate stays down after the train passes, do not drive around the gate. Each year, PennDOT participates in National School Bus Safety Week, which will be celebrated this year from Oct. 18-22, 2021. Penalties for Failing to Stop for a School Bus in Virginia. The front of the school bus must remain behind this line while stopped at the crossing. The Stop-Arm Police actively seek out stop-arm violators. When the road crosses over more than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of tracks. Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. Remember, children are often unpredictable and may not see you coming. Always focus on students as they approach the bus and watch for any who disappear from sight. 60 (Peace River North) near Fort St. John. Do not show anger, but do show that you mean business. When should you activate your alternating flashing amber warning lights? This type of crossing has a traffic control device installed at the crossing to regulate traffic at the crossing. Learn the laws and rules of the road in preparation for your drive and knowledge tests. Position yourself to supervise unloading. The driver shall use an approved, hand-held STOP sign while escorting all students. Bus Stalls or Is Trapped on the Tracks. Because of a trains size and weight it cannot stop quickly. 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. An emergency situation can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you. Once it pulls away from a stop and its lights stop flashing, it's perfectly fine to pass. Stop the bus. What Is The Law When School Bus Lights Are Flashing? The convex mirrors are located below the outside flat mirrors. Drivers who speed past a school bus will not avoid a ticket. When these amber lights flash you should immediately be prepared to stop. How far from the nearest rail should you stop at a railroad-highway crossing? Therefore, emergency evacuation procedures must be explained to all students. Check all mirrors. There is a blind spot immediately below and in front of each mirror and directly in back of the rear bumper. And if you drive, there's no doubt you will encounter FCPS and private school buses. This includes knowing how to operate the various emergency exits and the importance of listening to and following all instructions given by you. Escort all students in prekindergarten, kindergarten, or any grades 1 through 8, inclusive, who need to cross the highway or private road where the school bus stopped. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. Find professional School Bus Flashing Lights videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. You must stop at these crossings and follow proper procedures. Sec. School buses are equipped with yellow, amber or red flashing lights. Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders. The driver shall use an approved, hand-held STOP sign while escorting all students. Compensate for bad brakes or poor brake maintenance. Passive crossings have yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement markings, and crossbucks to assist you in recognizing a crossing. However, this depends on the situation, which is why you need to familiarize yourself with the school bus laws in your state. On all roads. At Murphy & Prachthauser, we understand that laws and statutes can sometimes be difficult to understand. On this day, we hope all school districts will participate by having their drivers document any illegal passes occurring on their routes during the day. Quick Answer: How To Take The Bus In Boston? RELATED SCHOOL CONTENT: Sacramento approves. That said, school buses have the right of way over other motorists. The following procedures are meant to be general guidelines. So whether youre behind the bus or in the next lane, you should stop. And every time someone doesn't stop for the bus, a child's life is at risk. 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. Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. Each year, PennDOT sponsors a school bus safety poster contest for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Change the way you normally brake. 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. It is safe to proceed once the lights stop flashing. Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver. In many areas of the country, Love the Bus events are held on or around Valentine's Day. The winners of the poster contest are recognized at an event in Harrisburg held every October as part of National School Bus Safety Week. What happens if you pass a school bus with flashing lights? 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. Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely and stay in control. When a school bus is flashing its red overhead lights? Retrieve emergency equipment. When your steering wheels lock up, you lose steering control. 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. The dome light should be on while loading in the dark. 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. If there is no police officer, and you believe the signal is malfunctioning, call your dispatcher to report the situation and ask for instructions on how to proceed. These children, though they represent less than 35% of the student population, were involved in 69% of the fatalities (79 out of 114). Practice here. from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights whether or not you are traveling in the same direction as the bus. Lights begin to flash when the bus stops and the doors open, and they keep flashing for about 20 seconds after the doors close. Join waiting students. Loading and unloading requires all your concentration. It is important for drivers to know how to react to a school bus in operation. The first-time fine for illegally passing a school bus is $250 - $400 and/or possibly 30 days in jail. That said, even with the five feet unpaved medians, cars moving in the opposite direction should exercise caution. In general, school buses must stop at all crossings, and drivers must ensure it is safe before proceeding across the tracks. The term overtaking means when cars are moving in the same direction. The danger zones may extend as much as 30 feet from the front bumper (with the first 12 feet being the most dangerous), 12 feet from the left and right sides, and 12 feet behind the rear bumper of the school bus. Many buses built before these dates have been voluntarily equipped with ABS. Would moving students complicate injuries such as neck and back injuries and fractures? Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing? Parents, legal guardians, or chartering parties are prohibited from transporting on a bus that is equipped with safety belts, or permitting to be transported on a bus that is equipped with safety belts, a child, ward, or passenger who is under 8 years of age and under 4 feet 9 inches in height, but under 16 years old, unless they are properly restrained by a safety belt. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. 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. Move as far as possible to the right on the traveled portion of the roadway. . When you're traveling behind a school bus that begins flashing their lights the answer is very clear; you need to stop. In other words: Without ABS, you still have normal brake functions. Drivers who illegally pass a bus face up to a $1,000 fine and could have their license suspended for one year. You must use the exterior side mirrors to monitor traffic that approaches and enters this area. Your school bus will have a yellow ABS malfunction lamp on the instrument panel if equipped with ABS. On a two lane road or if you're on a one lane road passing them going the same way, it . Fairfax County Public Schools runs more than 1,600 buses daily. What Are the Rules for Stopping for a School Bus in Florida? Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop. Figure 10.4 illustrates how the left and right side crossview mirrors should be adjusted. 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. Passive Crossings. On older systems, the lamp could stay on until you are driving over 5 mph. Lead students upwind of the bus at least 300 feet if there is a risk from spilled HazMat. Check out this graphic that helps illustrate Pennsylvania's school bus stopping law. Be alert. This is to warn you that children might be crossing. You are unloading students along your route. It is illegal to pass a school bus from behind when yellow lights are flashing.