Students heading back to school; police remind motorists of bus laws
Students in southwest Indiana will soon be heading back to school; Indiana State Police would like to remind everyone the importance of watching for students and for stopping for school buses while they are loading and unloading children.
Indiana State Police receive complaints almost daily from school bus drivers, parents and concerned citizens about motorists not stopping for school buses when required. Distracted driving is no doubt a contributing factor, so troopers want to remind all motorists the importance of avoiding distractions while driving, especially near schools.
School bus drivers will activate the buses flashing amber/yellow lights when preparing to stop to load and unload children. When motorists observe the flashing amber/yellow lights, they should slow down and prepare to stop.
Once the school bus stops and the RED flashing lights are activated and the stop arm is extended, motorists are required to stop and not pass the school bus. Many motorists are confused when they are required to stop. Below is a diagram and a few examples to help motorists understand when they are required by law to stop.
Two-lane roadways, which include most state highways, county roads and most city streets
If a school bus stops on a two lane road and the red flashing lights are activated and the stop arm is extended, all motorists MUST stop.
Multi-lane roadways with NO barrier between lanes
When a school bus stops on a multi-lane roadway without a barrier and the red flashing lights are activated and the stop arm is extended, all motorists MUST stop.
Multi-lane roadway with a grassy and or concrete barrier
When a school bus stops and the red flashing lights are activated and the stop arm is extended, only vehicles behind the bus MUST stop. Vehicles that are approaching from the opposite side are NOT required to stop.
Unfortunately every year in the United States, children are injured and killed walking to and from school and while loading and unloading from a school bus. School buses remain the safest means of transportation for our precious cargo, but we need every motorist to do their part and keep a watchful eye for children and to stop for school buses when required by law.
A person who disregards a school bus stop arm commits a Class A Infraction and could receive a maximum fine of $10,000.
Unfortunately, the accompanying photo is misleading and possibly even portraying an illegal example of the law – in any case a poor example – in part because you really don’t know what’s happening in the example. Going from memory and practice, my understanding of the law – not a working knowledge of it – is that vehicles must stop BEHIND the bus – not come around along side it before stopping. Nowhere in the story does it actually say to stop BEHIND the bus, so maybe this example of where to stop is legal. To me, the photo shows a vehicle passing the bus, albeit not completely, before stopping (or maybe it’s still moving?) but it’s not clear or stated what the female is signaling: STOP (if still moving), STOP here (and that’s OK?) – or, the car should (have) stopped BEHIND the bus before coming around to this point of last-resort to STOP. How many drivers – especially new and/or foreign drivers – may see this photo and assume it’s OK? Maybe it is, but me thinks not.
I would love to know what the Indiana definition of the speed limit when children are present. The sign says Speed Limit XX mph when children present. Does that mean any time you see children outside or along the street or specific hours and days?