As the weather gets warmer and the school year winds down, children are even more excited to get home from school and play outside with their friends. Drive normally, but get the system serviced soon. Children ages 4 to 8 (grades K-3) are most susceptible to a school bus fatality. Why School Bus Rules Of The Road Matter To You. Tips for students Remaining stopped until the bus starts moving or turns off the flashing red lights. When possible, assign 2 older, responsible student assistants to each emergency exit. Air brake vehicle, (trucks, buses, trailers, and converter dollies) built on or after March 1, 1998. Bring the school bus to a full stop with the front bumper at least 10 feet away from students at the designated stop. As a result, knowing what to do before, during, and after loading or unloading students is critical. Unlawfully driving around one will result in fines, court costs and possibly even jail. Once it pulls away from a stop and its lights stop flashing, it's perfectly fine to pass. And at that time you're not supposed to pass them. The area has a very young population and the highest birthrate in B.C. Watch for children - they can come from all directions, especially if they're running late. This is particularly true if the bus is stopped in a loading zone since pedestrians arent permitted to cross. 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. the best way to get on and off; and the six rules of safe riding - school bus flashing lights stock videos & royalty-free footage. You can prevent school bus/train accidents by following these recommended procedures. The bus driver waved the car through the red flashing lights, unaware a child was crossing the road at that time. Yellow or amber lights before the bus stops, and red lights go on when it has stopped. A flashing yellow light warns drivers to slow down and proceed with caution. If you must back up at a student pick up point, be sure to pick up students before backing and watch for late comers at all times. The web pages currently in English on the DMV website are the official and accurate source for the program information and services the DMV provides. 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. Instead, they flash warning lights near the buss roof to prompt you to reduce your speed and prepare to stop. Be prepared to act appropriately in emergency and crash situations. The side of a school bus acts like a sail on a sailboat. You should be thoroughly familiar with California and your local school district laws and regulations. Stop your vehicle and wait until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the driver or police officer to proceed. Lead students upwind (into the wind) of the bus if fire is present. For instance, if youre driving on a highway with a significant barrier in the middle, only the vehicles following the bus should stop. Every school bus shall be equipped with a crossview mirror mounted on the front exterior of the bus to provide the seated driver with a clear view of the area directly in front of the bus (CCR, Title 13 1258). It is safe to proceed once the lights stop flashing. As a general rule, add 15 feet to the length of the school bus to determine an acceptable amount of containment or storage area. Stop-arm cameras record drivers who unlawfully pass. The DMV is unable to guarantee the accuracy of any translation provided by the third-party vendors and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information or changes in the formatting of the content resulting from the use of the translation service. Direct a student assistant to lead students to the nearest safe place. Compensate for bad brakes or poor brake maintenance. A school bus will turn on flashing yellow lights to warn drivers to slow down and be ready to stop. Diagram 5-4 If the bus is secure and you cannot account for a student outside the bus, check around and underneath the bus. Ensure that the mirrors are properly adjusted so you can see: Figure 10.2 shows how both the outside left and right side flat mirrors should be adjusted. Under S. 175 (11,12) of the Highway Traffic Act, if the school bus is stopped and has its overhead red lights flashing, drivers who are "meeting" the bus must stop before reaching it and must not . Vehicles with ABS have yellow malfunction lamps to tell you if something is not working. Look for pedestrians, traffic, or other objects before, during, and after coming to a stop. Would removing students expose them to speeding traffic, severe weather, or a dangerous environment such as downed power lines? When the road crosses over more than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of tracks. What is a passive railroad-highway crossing? Where should students walk to after exiting the bus? The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website uses Google Translate to provide automatic translation of its web pages. Get to the school bus stop five minutes early so you won't have to run across the road to catch the bus. A decision to evacuate should include consideration of the following conditions: Mandatory Evacuations. Motorists attempted to pass the bus, claiming they did not have time to wait. Look up the status of an active OL permit holder. The bus driver may also indicate for you to go ahead, although even then, you must exercise due caution just in case there are still kids trying to cross the road. According to the California law (CVC 22454), motorists must remain stopped as long as the red lights on the school bus are flashing. Set out emergency warning devices as necessary and appropriate. After unloading all children at the school or after your last stop, make sure to do a post-trip of your bus and check to make sure that no child has been left on the bus. The lookout should not give directions on how to back the bus. (1) The operator of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus that has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately . 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. For the safety of students entering and exiting, all vehicles must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when its flashing red lights are activated or the stop sign emerges. Make certain no students are returning to the bus. Have the students board the school bus slowly, in single file, and use the handrail. Move everyone far from the bus at an angle, which is both away from the tracks and toward the train. The first and most important consideration is for you to recognize the hazard. There is a blind spot immediately below and in front of each mirror and directly in back of the rear bumper. The NY State Education Department, Department of Pupil Transportation, states that the youngest students are most at risk. What Are the Rules for Stopping for a School Bus in Florida? When your chat is over, you can save the transcript. There is also a no passing zone sign on 2-lane roads. Establish a positive relationship with your students. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus. 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You should never change the location of a bus stop without written approval from the appropriate school district official. Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely and stay in control. Can you pass a bus with flashing yellow lights? Fairfax County Public Schools runs more than 1,600 buses daily. Drivers must remain stopped until the school bus resumes moving down the road or turns off its red . For more information, please visit the Operation Lifesaver website. Children can be unpredictable and may try to cross the road when its not safe to do so. The driver may not proceed until the flashing red lights are no longer activated. Readers ask: When Is The Next Mta Bus Operator Exam? A school bus driver activates these lights AT LEAST 100 feet before stopping. Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children. When it is safe to do so, pull away from the unloading area. You should always check each mirror before operating the school bus to obtain maximum viewing area. Look for clues-such as safety patrols, crossing . School buses will also have flashing headlights. This sign marks the crossing. Find professional School Bus Flashing Lights videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. Any roadway, highway, private road or parking lot located on school property. Define the danger zone. If you have a case you would like to speak to a lawyer about, please contact us to schedule a free consultation and get an experienced team of lawyers working on your behalf. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits. 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 your bus stalls or is trapped on the tracks, get everyone out and off the tracks immediately. You should back your bus only when you have no other safe way to move the vehicle. 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. Also, if there are still children on the side of the road, you have to drive slowly until youre past them. 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). This will keep the students from being hit by debris if another vehicle collides with the bus. If the school bus is on a street with a raised or center median, or with more . For more information about Love the Bus, visit Love the Bus. If you must back up at a student drop off point, be sure to unload students after backing. With school starting Thursday, Sept. 8 in the Kent School District, it's a good time to review the rules for drivers and stopping for school buses. The outside convex mirrors? Make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach. However, a school bus does not have the slightest edge when involved in an accident with a train. A CLP holder with a P and/or an S endorsement is prohibited from operating a CMV with passengers, other than federal/state auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the accompanying CDL holder (CFR, Title 49 383.25). 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. It is also an opportunity to honor the many school bus drivers that safely transport students to and from school every day. There are exceptions to these school bus laws. Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road. Proceed when it is safe. The convex mirrors are located below the outside flat mirrors.