Schools
Keep Children Safe - A Recap of School Bus Safety Laws
What driver's need to know about School Bus safety
Most schools have now started the new school year. With that in mind, it seems like a good time to review the Illinois laws regarding school buses – to keep our children safe and also keep the highways safe.
ON A TWO-LANE ROAD, ALL TRAFFIC, IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, MUST STOP WHEN ENCOUNTERING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS. When coming upon a bus which has flashing red lights and an extended “STOP” sign from the side of the bus, you must stop for the bus. A driver may proceed only when (1) the bus begins moving again; or (2) the bus driver motions for traffic to proceed; or (3) the red lights stop flashing and the extended “STOP” sign retracts back into the bus. On a two-lane roadway, traffic in both directions must stop and adhere to these rules
ON A FOUR-LANE ROAD, RULES ARE DIFFERENT. On a roadway that is four lanes or more, vehicles travelling in the same direction as the stopped school bus must stop, but vehicles travelling in the opposite direction from the school bus are not required to stop. This does not, of course, relieve operators of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus from keeping a proper lookout for children who are leaving the school bus, or even for children who are approaching the school bus to board.
FLASHING YELLOW LIGHTS. School buses are equipped with flashing yellow lights. When these lights are activated it means that the bus will soon be stopping to load or unload passengers. You should be alert for this.
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RAILROAD CROSSINGS. Illinois law requires all school buses to stop at railroad crossings. The bus will activate its hazard warning lights and stop, and the driver will then decide if it is safe to cross the tracks. If you are traveling in the opposite direction of the bus, you may pass a school bus stopped at the railroad crossing. If you are traveling in the same direction as the school bus, it is illegal to cross over the center line to pass the school bus within 100 feet of the railroad crossing.
Obeying the laws regarding school buses keeps our children safe and keep all persons using the roadways safe. For more information and resources, visit our website at www.payonklaw.com, or call us for a free consultation at 708-633-6005.
