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When you drive a vehicle with ABS, you should brake as you always have. Children can be unpredictable and may try to cross the road when its not safe to do so. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. In order to get students to and from school safely and on time, you need to be able to concentrate on the driving task. In other words: Without ABS, you still have normal brake functions. Look up the status of an active OL permit holder. According to The Bellingham Herald, the general rule is that drivers overtaking or meeting a school bus thats stopped on the side of the road and has activated a visual signal shall stop before reaching it. Strong winds affect the handling of the school bus! Walk through the bus to ensure no students remain on the bus. A school bus will have alternating flashing lights and a mechanical stop-sign arm extended while passengers are entering or leaving the bus. Some school buses are equipped with roof-mounted, white strobe lights. When a school bus is flashing its red overhead lights? The adoption of this system will improve student transportation and road safety and align Ontario with measures taken in all . 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 . The driver must evacuate the bus when: Be Prepared and Plan Ahead. 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. Bus drivers are required to turn on the flashing red lights at any time the students are getting onto or off of the bus. You must use the exterior side mirrors to monitor traffic that approaches and enters this area. - When a school bus turns on its flashing lights or the driver extends the stop signs on the sides of the bus, you muststop your vehicle at least 5 metres (16 feet) away from the bus. Is there a chance the bus could be hit by other vehicles? ABS only comes into play when a wheel would normally have locked up because of over braking. Students should board the bus only when signaled by the driver. Retrieve emergency equipment. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website uses Google Translate to provide automatic translation of its web pages. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. 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. Once it pulls away from a stop and its lights stop flashing, it's perfectly fine to pass. Position yourself to supervise unloading. This is particularly true if the bus is stopped in a loading zone since pedestrians arent permitted to cross. 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. 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. Vehicle Owners - A law was passed in 2019 1 that authorizes school districts and municipalities to use stop-arm cameras on school buses to impose penalties on the owners of vehicles which pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and red lights on the school bus are flashing. Buses should be treated differently than you would treat an average-sized vehicle. Sec. Many buses built before these dates have been voluntarily equipped with ABS. Check out this graphic that helps illustrate Pennsylvania's school bus stopping law. Why School Bus Rules Of The Road Matter To You. In the foggy Central Valley of California, flashing white strobe lights are mounted on top of the bus to assist other drivers in seeing the school bus approaching or at a stop. Is there a hazardous spill involved? Fairfax County Public Schools runs more than 1,600 buses daily. Establish a positive relationship with your students. After that, you only proceed if the lights stop flashing, the bus resumes motion, or the driver signals you onward. Drivers must stop in both directions, unless separated from the bus by a median. They cannot proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the school bus driver motions for the automobile driver to proceed. You are required to yield the right-of-way to the train. Walk through the bus to check for hiding/sleeping students and items left by students. It is critical that you understand and follow all state and local laws and regulations regarding approaching a school bus stop. These active devices include flashing red lights with or without bells, and flashing red lights with bells and gates. If you cannot answer them all, reread Section 10. Avoid areas that are subject to flash floods. And then when they're actually stopped, they're red. When engaged, these light will flash simultaneously. The penalty for passing a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal goes from a minimum of $200 to $400 . The driver must ensure that these mirrors are properly adjusted. on roads that are divided to separate. Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel. All stops should be approved by the school district prior to making the stop. Drivers must stay stopped until the red lights are off. See Figure 10.6. Remove the key if leaving the drivers compartment. Always use caution when approaching a stopped school bus. Students should wait in a designated location for the school bus, facing the bus as it approaches. Assign another student assistant to lead the students to a safe place after evacuation. 1. The bus is on fire or there is a threat of a fire. Sadly, not everyone does stop when the school bus lights are flashing and kids could be on the road. ABS should prevent brake-induced skids but not those caused by spinning the drive wheels or going too fast in a turn. Escort all students in prekindergarten, kindergarten, or any grades 1 through eighth, who need to cross the highway or private road where the school bus stopped. The dome light should be on while loading in the dark. If there is no white line painted on the pavement, you must stop the bus before the crossbuck sign. Check to make sure all of the children unloading from the bus are at a place of safety before deactivating your eight-way light system and moving the school bus. Constantly check all mirrors and rear windows. Protect the scene. When you see flashing red or amber warning lights, you are not permitted to pass the school bus and should be prepared to stop. In 2007, the American School Bus Council organized the Love the Bus campaign/program to raise awareness regarding school transportation and safety nationwide. 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. Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you. Slow down and be prepared to stop if you see a school bus displaying this signal. Brake the same way, regardless of whether you have ABS on the bus. Stop at least 20 feet away from buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway. 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. There is an imminent danger of an accident. See Figure 10.5. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. If the bus is also equipped with amber or yellow lights, these lights are used to signal that the bus will be slowing down. If there is no radio or cell phone or they are inoperable, dispatch a passing motorist or area resident to call for help. However, if it has stopped and its red lights are flashing, then you must stop and wait until it resumes motion and turns off its lights. Bus drivers dont just stop before turning the red lights on. Solid YellowA yellow traffic signal light means CAUTION. The red traffic signal light is about to appear. You are loading students along the route. The entire side of the bus up to the mirror mounts. Never cross the street behind the school bus. All of the students, including the heads of the students right behind you. Turn on the right turn signal indicator about 100-300 feet or approximately 3-5 seconds before pulling over. Proceed when it is safe. School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement Approved Systems (PDF), School Bus Side Stop Signal Arm Enforcement System Approval Requirements (PDF), Operation Safe Stop - Public Participation Information (PDF), Operation Safe Stop - Law Enforcement Participation Information (PDF), PennDOT School Bus Safety Poster Contest Guidelines (PDF), National Association for Pupil Transportation. Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window. Drivers must stop if the bus has its red light flashing as it picks up or drops off children, depending on the driver's direction of travel and the type of road . Would moving students complicate injuries such as neck and back injuries and fractures? If your bus is so equipped, the overhead strobe light should be used when you have limited visibility. Will you be more careful now that you know the 20ft rule? When you come to a four way stop who has the right away? Figure 10.4 illustrates how the left and right side crossview mirrors should be adjusted. When a moving school bus displays flashing yellow lights, this usually means they are preparing to stop to load or unload children. 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. Handrail Hang-Ups. Define the danger zone. It means that drivers have to be even more careful to look out for children crossing the street and for school buses. 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. If there is a student missing, ask the other students where the student is. Your email address will not be published. "When the school bus gets ready to stop, the lights come on and they're yellow. Pavement markings mean the same as the advance warning sign. Increase or decrease ultimate stopping power. Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Instead, call your dispatcher. In California, the law states that: Drivers behind school buses must stop when school buses stop and display their flashing red lights (and extend their stop signs, if equipped). Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety. Repeat offenders can face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 180 days in jail. hool bus if it has already left the bus stop. Therefore, emergency evacuation procedures must be explained to all students. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop, load or unload children. California Vehicle Code 22454 (a) prohibits a driver from passing a school bus when: The bus is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading any school children; and, The bus displays flashing red lights and/or a stop signal . As such, we wanted to help you understand the Wisconsin statutes pertaining to school buses and explain how the laws may affect you. Move everyone far from the bus at an angle, which is both away from the tracks and toward the train. If there is a behavior problem on the bus, wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away. 200 feet or 4 bus lengths behind the bus. OWNER LIABILITY FOR FAILURE OF OPERATOR TO STOP FOR A SCHOOL BUS DISPLAYING A RED VISUAL SIGNAL AND STOP-ARM (VTL 1174-A), Website accessibility practices and procedures. If a police officer is at the crossing, obey directions. 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. There is also a no passing zone sign on 2-lane roads. At least 1 traffic lane on either side of the bus. Never play with the emergency exits. They can even move the school bus off the road or, in extreme conditions, tip it over. The hazard lights are amber in colour and are located at the bottom of the bus. (1) The operator of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus that has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately . Count the number of students at the bus stop and be sure all board the bus. A safe place will be at least 100 feet off the road in the direction of oncoming traffic. Remind the offender of the expected behavior. According to the Ontario government, drivers who ignore the red flashing lights or the school bus's stop arm, can face a hefty fine from $400 to $2,000 if it's their first offence. Containment or Storage Areas. This would involve the proper use of mirrors, alternating flashing lights, and, when equipped, the moveable stop signal arm, and crossing control arm. A school bus's yellow lights are a warning that the bus is about to stop so you need to slow down and be prepared to stop. Obstructed View of Tracks. It is important that the school bus driver understands and obeys state and local laws and regulations. Violations can lead to a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense. Additionally, you must wait until the children are clear of the road and the sign is withdrawn for you to proceed. Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. Follow your schools procedures for discipline or refusal of rights to ride the bus. However, you must recognize there may not be older, responsible students on the bus at the time of the emergency. 682. Even if the bus driver waves you ahead, you should still remain vigilant and keep to slower speeds. The Traffic Injury Prevention Project sponsored by PennDOT provides school districts, school bus contractors, hospitals, pediatricians, parents and other health care providers with the most current information about the atypical transportation needs of children with special health care needs, teen parents, special education students and the preschool population. When approaching a crossing with a signal or stop sign on the opposite side, pay attention to the amount of room there. 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. If necessary, pull the bus over to handle the problem. Vehicles with ABS have yellow malfunction lamps to tell you if something is not working. The lookout should not give directions on how to back the bus. There is a blind spot area directly behind the drivers seat, as well as a large blind spot area that begins at the rear bumper and could extend up to 400 feet or more behind the bus. The driver may not proceed until the flashing red lights are no longer activated. Drivers must remain stopped until the school bus resumes moving down the road or turns off its red . on a highway or trafficway shall stop at least ten feet before reaching the school bus when the red signal lights on the school bus are flashing and the side stop signal arms are activated under section 4552(b.1) (relating to general requirements for school . Police Officer at the Crossing. Students may drop an object near the bus during loading and unloading. But some regulations are a little bit more obscure. Post a lookout. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. Each state has laws and regulations governing how school buses must operate at railroad-highway crossings. This forces the students to walk to the bus so you have a better view of their movements. When the lights begin to flash, you must stop! At Murphy & Prachthauser, we understand that laws and statutes can sometimes be difficult to understand. Always be aware of children and parents that may be waiting at a school bus stop or perhaps running to catch the bus before it departs. When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction must stop before reaching the bus: on a two-lane road on multi-lane highways on divided highways Share the Road Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Children ages 4 to 8 (grades K-3) are most susceptible to a school bus fatality. The safe distance changes state-to-state. Drivers who speed past a school bus will not avoid a ticket. As the yellow lights come on the speed limit is reduced to 20mph, regardless of what the street signs say. The violation is considered reckless driving and could be subject to a $2,500 fine. When a school bus has its red flashing lights on and its stop arms extended, students are either getting off . When your other wheels lock up, you may skid or even spin the vehicle. If you're going the opposite direction, though, passing a school bus with flashing yellow lights is okay. According to the California law (CVC 22454), motorists must remain stopped as long as the red lights on the school bus are flashing. Determine if evacuation is in the best interest of safety. Drivers break the law if they do not stop immediately. Motorists approaching a stopped school bus from the rear with its overhead red signals lights flashing, shall stop at least 20 metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves, or the overhead lights have stopped flashing and its stop arm is no longer activated. Even though there are safety guidelines for boarding the bus, driving near school buses comes with different rules than regular traffic. If time permits, school bus drivers should contact their dispatcher to explain the situation before making a decision to evacuate the school bus. ABS is an add-on to your normal brakes, not a replacement for them. School bus safety is a high priority in Pennsylvania. 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. The six winners of the competition are also recognized at an event held during National School Bus Safety Week. As a system check on newer vehicles, the malfunction lamp comes on at start-up for a bulb check and then goes out quickly. If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions. Don't start driving until the red lights stop flashing. It is also an opportunity to honor the many school bus drivers that safely transport students to and from school every day. They should be far enough away so the bus cannot topple on them. Drive and brake as you always have. When interacting with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Virtual Assistant, please do not include any personal information. If you keep these laws in mind as you operate your vehicle or bicycle, you keep others safe and promote a culture of safety. The NY State Education Department, Department of Pupil Transportation, states that the youngest students are most at risk. A school bus driver shall not actuate the visual signals or the stop warning sign in designated school bus loading areas where the bus is entirely off the roadway or at school buildings when children or persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities are loading or unloading The area from the front of the bus to the service door. The front of the rear tires touching the ground. Passive crossings require you to recognize the crossing, search for any train(s) using the tracks, and decide if there is sufficient clear space to cross safely. Determine the Need to Evacuate the Bus. Troopers didn't say how far beyond the 45-mph limit the driver may have been going. This also applies to highways where vehicles are traveling in both directions. Second violation within 18 months - penalty of $275, Third violation (or more) within 18 months - penalty of $300. You should never change the location of a bus stop without written approval from the appropriate school district official. Pavement Markings. See Figure 10.8. Check all mirrors. 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. To attract attention, most school buses display flashing amber or red lights, or a lowered "STOP" arm when stopped. The Danger Zone is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver (ten feet in front of the bus where the driver may be too high to see a child, ten feet on either side of the bus where a child may be in the drivers blind spot, and the area behind the school. A decision to evacuate should include consideration of the following conditions: Mandatory Evacuations. When amber lights begin flashing on top of a school bus, they mean that the school bus is slowing down and preparing to stop. 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. Can you pass a bus with flashing yellow lights? One way states seek to reduce these types of tragic accidents is by establishing strict rules for when motorists must stop for school buses. Do not show anger, but do show that you mean business. In California, the fine for passing a school bus can be up to $600, according to the California Highway Patrol. What Are the Rules for Stopping for a School Bus in Florida?