School Bus Stop Arm Rules… the basics
School bus stop arm rules vary from state to state. However, drivers can use some basic common sense practices. First of all, slow down. Prepare for the school bus to stop. Above all, understand that the sole purpose of a school bus is to transport precious cargo, our children. Secondly, school bus stop arm rules are not just rules… they are laws. The purpose of these laws is to protect children. As a result, BusPatrol has a mission to change driving culture across America and Canada. The first step is to educate drivers on school bus stop arm rules. Let’s start with 4 basic features of the road that help drivers make the right decisions.
School bus stop arm rules for amber or yellow lights on buses
You probably come across school buses daily. When amber lights are flashing, the bus driver is signaling that the bus will soon come to a complete stop to let students on or off.
School bus stop arm rules for red lights on busses.
Drivers must stop if the school bus’ red lights are flashing. Drivers tend to impulsively speed-up in an attempt to pass school buses before the arm is fully extended. This is a mistake. While the red lights are flashing, drivers need to bring the vehicle to a complete stop behind the school bus. Drivers who speed past up will not avoid a ticket.
Police actively seek out stop-arm violators. Drivers break the law if they do not stop immediately. It’s similar to driving through a red stop-light in a school zone. The stop-arm is a symbol of trust to the child crossing. Therefore, drivers who ignore the stop-arm violate that trust and endanger children. As a result, cars traveling in both directions must stop. Furthermore, the number of traffic lanes is irrelevant. All traffic must stop for the school bus.
Sometimes there is a median or physical barrier separating two lanes of traffic in opposing directions. Traffic on the opposite side of the road may be permitted to continue depending on your state laws.
The cost of a violation
Finally, the human cost is most important. Every time a driver violates the stop-arm, he or she is putting a child at risk. Every year children die from stop-arm violations. Illegally passing a stopped school bus can carry a fine of anywhere between $500 to $1,200. Drivers licenses can be suspended depending on state laws.