Back to School: A Lesson on School Bus Safety for PA Motorists

While it is not officially fall for a few more weeks, summer break is over for our local schools. Returning to the classroom brings with it fresh possibilities for our community’s children to learn, make new friends, and the opportunity to further develop their talents. Your morning route might take a few extra minutes as school buses make their way back out onto our roadways to pick up and safely deliver children to school.

Pennsylvania law requires motorists to stop for school buses. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website provides the following:

• Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
• Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
• Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
• If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed with caution without stopping.
• Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

Failure to adhere to these rules can result in up to a $250 fine, 5 points on your driving record, and a 60-day license suspension.

When in doubt, always exercise caution. It may add a few minutes onto your commute, but it could save a child’s life.