PAY ATTENTION: School Buses Return to Local Roads Soon

As the new school year begins, PennDOT reminds drivers to remain vigilant as students and school buses return to the roadways. 

That means: Put the cell phone away, set your cup of coffee down, don't look in your rear-view mirror to fix your hair. Concentrate on who and what is around you.

Countless accidents happen in the Pine-Richland community because drivers admit that they simply were not paying attention. (Check out our Traffic Blotters.)

“Our ultimate goal is to make sure everyone safely arrives at their destination,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch.

“Motorists should avoid distractions and obey school bus and school zone traffic laws so we have the safest possible environment for students boarding and exiting buses.” 

By law, motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop at least 10 feet from a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.

The exception? That is when a driver encounters a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a highway clearly separated by a divider, such as concrete barriers or grass medians.

But even then, you never can predict what a child will do. Motorists should be alert for students trying to cross the road to catch the bus. 

Motorists convicted of violating Pennsylvania’s school-bus-stopping law face a $250 fine, five points on their driving record and a 60-day license suspension. 

Motorists also should be alert in school zones—those hubs of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Motorists are required to slow down to the posted speed limit of 15 mph in school zones. Violators face a fine and three points on their driving record. 

Students are also exposed to traffic while waiting for buses or walking to the bus stop or school. Motorists are reminded to be cautious and alert when approaching a school bus stop and to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.    

For more information on Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law, school bus safety tips and programs, visit PennDOT’s highway safety website, www.JustDrivePa.org, and select the “School Bus Safety” link under the Traffic Safety Information Center. 

Do you know of any dangerous bus stops in your neighborhood? Tell us about them in the comments.