Share the Road With School Buses

School buses can interrupt the flow of traffic. While driving near a school bus, you should be highly cautious, anticipate signs and stops, and try to be an exemplary driver. These tips will help you to avoid specific dangers present when sharing the road with a school bus.

Steps

Driving Near a School Bus

1. Be patient when sharing the road with a school bus. Impatience can lead to bad decisions behind the wheel, such as following other vehicles too closely or switching lanes too often. The most important concern is that of the well-being of the children on the bus. If necessary, experiencing a delay is a small price to pay for the safety of the passengers as well as your own.
2. Keep a safe distance if you're behind the school bus. Maintain a distance of no less than 2 seconds in order to allow for safe stops. To measure distance in seconds, identify a landmark that the bus is passing such as a sign or a pole. You should pass that landmark in two seconds or more.
   • When stopped behind a school bus, allow for at least ten feet between the rear of the bus and the front of your automobile. The ten feet surrounding a school bus is the most dangerous area for children during their trip.
3. Stay out of blind spots. Although bus drivers have large mirrors, they may not be able to see you clearly. Slow down and allow the bus to switch lanes if the bus driver begins to flash its blinkers.
   • Only pass a school bus on its left hand side, and never emerge from the bus driver's blind spot to do so.
   • If you cannot see any of the rear view mirrors on the bus you’re following, then the bus driver probably cannot see you either.
   • Never pass a school bus while the driver is making an indication that he is either preparing to stop or switch lanes.
4. Be on the lookout for children. Buses can be unpredictable, and may not understand the safety concerns associated with the road. Always look twice before beginning to move through traffic behind a school bus.
   • If you are driving in front of a school bus during morning hours, it is likely that there are children waiting to be picked up near the roadway. While it is always your duty to drive defensively, use extra caution under this circumstance.

Slowing and Stopping for a School Bus

1. Anticipate stops. School buses stop frequently. Watch the bus' brake lights to ensure you start to brake immediately when necessary.
   • Aside from loading and unloading passengers, keep in mind that school buses usually stop at all marked stop signs, yield signs, and railroad crossings.
2. Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop sign. Consequences range from heightened fines to jail time. More importantly, consider whether the consequences of passing a stopped or slow school bus are worth the risk of death.
   • When stopped behind a school bus, allow for at least ten feet between the rear of the bus and the front of your automobile. The ten feet surrounding a school bus is the most dangerous area for children during their trip.
   • Even if the roadway is not being patrolled by police officers, it is still possible for aggressive drivers to get caught. Many states have equipped their school buses with cameras in order to identify and ticket aggressive drivers.
3. Slow down if you see the bus flashing its yellow lights. This is to indicate that it is slowing down in order to stop.
4. Remember that school buses stop at all railroad crossings. Be prepared to stop if you’re behind one and approaching a crossing—whether or not a train is on its way.

Passing a School Bus

1. Pass a school bus on its left hand side only. The right hand side is where all loading and unloading happens. Even if the school bus is in a left hand lane, do not pass on the right.
2. Be visible to the school bus driver before passing. As with any other vehicle, be sure that the bus driver has had an opportunity to see you before you pass them. Use your blinker. Don't surprise them by suddenly emerging from their blind spot.
3. Pay attention to bus driver hand signals. Watch for hand motions from the left driver's window. If the driver expects to stop for an extended period of time, there may be hand signals telling you to go around the bus on the left very carefully.

References

See also

• Get Real Time Traffic Information Delivered to You in Florida
• Respond to an Ambulance
• Take a Detour in Road Closures
• Cross a Road in India
• Drive Safely Around Children
• Cross the Road (UK)
• People Watch Over a Busy Street
• Report a Reckless Driver
• Develop Road Safety Skills
• Report Potholes

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What links here

• Share the Road With Motorcycles
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