Most children involved in bus-related fatalities are 4-7 years old, and have been hit by motorists that illegally pass a stopped school bus. Because of this, Balcos Insurance wants to make sure you know the laws when it comes to school buses. We want to keep children everywhere safe.
- It’s illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
- Yellow lights flashing are the equivalent of yellow lights at a stoplight. If you’re very near the bus already when the lights start flashing, you may pass (when legal to pass otherwise – do not cross double yellow lines, etc.) with caution. However, if you are not already very close, it is advised that you wait, as yellow lights indicate that the bus is about to load or unload children and change to red flashing lights.
- Red flashing lights and the stop sign arm extended indicate that children are loading or unloading. It is illegal to pass. In Washington State, passing will earn you a ticket of over $350.
- When red lights are flashing, traffic from the opposite direction must also stop.
- Passing a school bus on the right is highly illegal. Do not do it. Ever.
- Watch for children in the road in the mornings before school and after school.
- Children are unpredictable, and are most in danger of being hit by a motorist within 10 feet of the bus. Use extreme caution when in this radius to ensure the safety of the children.
- Do not block crosswalks when stopped at a light, or when waiting to turn. Leave the area clear until you are clear to turn to prevent pedestrians walking around your car and into a more dangerous traffic situation.
- Stop for school patrols and crossing guards.
- Take extra time to look for children at intersections, medians, and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully and slowly.
- Keep an eye out, especially in areas with more children (residential, parks, playgrounds, schools). Children can be difficult to see, so always take care and be prepared to stop.
- Be careful of bicycles. They can be hard to see, so make sure you are well aware of them.
- When passing bicycles, do so slowly and leave a distance between you of no less than 3 feet until you’ve completely passed.
- Use extra caution when turning left or right to ensure you’re not cutting across the path of a bicycle.
- Bicycles riding in the street follow the same laws as another vehicle, so be prepared to encounter this.
- Always use your turn signals.
- Keep an eye out for bikes turning in front of your vehicle without looking or signaling, especially in the case of children.
- Be careful around driveways and parked cars. Carefully look to make sure bicycles won’t come popping out from behind obstructions.
- Before exiting your car, check your side mirror and blind spot for bicycles. You don’t want to have them collide with your door.
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