LORAIN, Ohio — As students head back to school across Northeast Ohio, that means you can expect to see buses back on the roads throughout your community very soon.
But do you know the actual school bus traffic laws?
During our back-to-school special on the GO! morning show Wednesday, 3News’ Isabel Lawrence talked with Lt. Ray Santiago of the Ohio State Highway Patrol for a refresher on the laws drivers need to know when it comes to stopping for a school bus.
“If it’s a two or three lane roadway, you have to stop at least 10 feet away from a school bus with their flashing lights or stop arm extended,” explained Lt. Santiago. “Any four or more lane roadways, only the traffic that is going the same direction needs to stop.”
He said drivers thinking they can save time by going around a school bus need to think twice.
“Any of those violations could result in a mandatory court appearance, which will cost you hours instead of the seconds that you thought you were saving,” Lt. Santiago said. “In addition to that, you’re looking at up to a $500 fine, up to a year license suspension and some points on your license. But those are all very minimal when you look at the safety concerns and putting our students in danger.”
So what are all the rules? The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office explained the school bus traffic laws in Ohio with the following post, which also includes several images of when drivers are required to stop:
A driver must stop for a school bus when the school bus is dropping off or picking up students. When a school bus driver is preparing to stop the bus, he or she activates four amber (yellow) warning lights, two on the front and two on the rear of the bus. The warning lights continue to flash until the bus is fully stopped. Other vehicles are not required to stop during the amber flashing lights, but should prepare to stop as soon as the bus comes to a full stop.
When the bus comes to a complete stop, the amber lights stop flashing and four red lights – two in front and two in back – start flashing while the children enter or leave the bus. In addition, the bus may be equipped with a stop arm with flashing red lights that automatically extends beneath the window on the left side of the bus. If there is no stop arm, you are still required to stop.
- If the bus is stopped on a street or road with fewer than four lanes, all traffic approaching the bus from either direction must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus and remain stopped until the bus begins to move or the bus driver signals motorists to proceed.
- If the bus is stopped on a street or road with four or more lanes, only traffic proceeding in the same direction as the bus must stop at the rear of the bus and remain stopped until the bus begins to move.
School bus drivers believing a motorist has unlawfully passed the stopped bus, if possible, will report the license plate number and location to the law enforcement agency, who will attempt to determine the identity of the driver.