TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS) is urging motorists to pay closer attention to school buses after reporting an increase in drivers illegally passing buses that are stopped to pick up or drop off students.
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The school system said it is working with the Tuscaloosa Police Department to address the growing number of stop-arm violations in an effort to better protect students traveling to and from school.
"We never want to see a student injured because someone wasn't paying attention or failed to follow the law," TCS Assistant Superintendent of Operations Deron Cameron said. "We appreciate the Tuscaloosa Police Department working alongside us to address these violations, and we ask every driver to be mindful of our students' safety when approaching a school bus."
Under Alabama law, motorists are required to stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and extends its stop arm. However, the requirements vary depending on the type of roadway.
TCS reminded drivers that on two-lane roads, motorists traveling in both directions must stop. The same rule applies to roads with four or more lanes that do not have a physical divider separating opposing traffic.
On physically divided highways, motorists traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop, while those traveling in the opposite direction may proceed with caution.
Drivers must remain stopped until the bus resumes moving or the bus driver signals that it is safe to proceed.
TCS did not provide specific figures showing how many violations have occurred or how much they have increased.
"School bus safety is everyone's responsibility," Cameron said. "We are asking drivers to slow down, pay attention and remember that a few seconds of patience could save a child's life."
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