School Bus Stop Arm Extended? Stop—it's the Law

Last month, the Maryland State Department of Education sponsored a statewide survey to record violations of drivers bypassing the stop arms of school buses. The results were staggering.

On a single day, 7,028 violations were reported with 845 of those violations occurring in Anne Arundel County. When a bus is stopped to pick up young students and activates the red flashing lights, the stop sign swings out and drivers are required by law to stop—in both directions. Apparently, Maryland drivers have forgotten the rules of the road.

The majority of the infractions came from oncoming drivers who drove past the stop arm (3,997). Another large number of drivers (2,665) passed a stopped bus on the driver’s side and 366 drivers passed a stopped bus on the children’s door side.

Edgewater-area bus driver Tom Carr said that he has seen an increase in vehicles ignoring the law to stop. "There are more cars on the road," he said.

"I had one not stop this afternoon [Tuesday] on Muddy Creek Road," Carr said.

Currently, the fine for illegally passing a school bus is $570 and two points on the driver’s record. Several bills are on the table that could change those fines and points and legislation by the Maryland General Assembly has called for school systems to install cameras on buses to help catch violators.

However, such added enforcement has raised concerns from school board members since costs could run between $400 and $450 a bus, according to Anne Arundel County Schools Chief Operating Officer Alex Szachnowicz.

There have been 107 traffic stops since the school year began due to illegal school-bus passing with 42 citations issued. Most drivers are given a warning.

A state grant has been given to the county to increase education and enforcement.

School officials in Fredrick County began noticing more and more violations and can be credited with bringing the issue to light.

Last Thursday, a Senate committee deferred action on a statewide version of the bill that calls for the installation of cameras and a House subcommittee indicated that it prefers to start small by implementing the cameras as a pilot program in Frederick County, where it all began.

More than 4,712 school bus drivers took part in last month’s survey, representing 65 percent of the drivers in the state, which is considered a snapshot of illegal activity by Maryland drivers.

“It is simply illegal to pass a bus with its stop arm extended and its lights flashing, no matter the circumstances,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick. “Our number one priority as educators—and drivers—should be the safety of Maryland school children.”

Many warnings are given instead of citations because motorists are unclear on the rules. Drivers must stop for a school bus when approaching from the opposite direction on two-lane and even on four-lane undivided highways. The rule does not apply on divided highways but always applies to drivers approaching a bus from behind.