School Bus Laws, 500 Cameras Watching Drivers: Montgomery County Back to School

ROCKVILLE, MD — Every year as Montgomery County Public School students return to class, drivers need schooled once again on Maryland traffic laws about stopped school buses. The Montgomery County Police Department is expanding its school bus camera enforcement program with the start of the 2017-18 school year, which kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 5. Five hundred buses now have cameras; during the past year nearly 20,000 citations were issued through the program, police say.

Drivers are reminded to:

• Be prepared for heavier traffic - vehicles and pedestrians.
• Allow extra time for your commute.
• Remember to stop for stopped school buses when necessary and required by law.
• Be extra careful as the days are getting shorter and children are walking to bus stops and schools.

The Law:
When a driver passes a stopped school bus with red flashing lights, it is often because he/she doesn't know the law, is impatient, or is distracted.

When approaching a stopped school bus with activated flashing red lights, Maryland law requires that drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Drivers approaching the bus from the opposite direction must also stop if there is no physical barrier, such as a median. Remember: “Paint (the line markings on the roadway) does not protect (children crossing the street).”

SEE ALSO: Montgomery County School Calendar 2017-18: First Day Of School, Vacations, Conferences

The fine for a camera catching a driver illegally passing a school bus increased July 1 to $250, with a ticket sent in the mail. No points are associated with a citation issued through this program.

If police see a driver illegally passing a school bus, the officer can pull the driver over and hand over a moving violation that carries a fine of as much as $570 and three points assessed on a driver’s record.

School Bus Camera Safety Enforcement Program:
The county's School Bus Camera Safety Enforcement Program began in January 2014, with 25 cameras initially deployed on the outside of school buses. Those cameras are able to record vehicles that pass stopped school buses with activated flashing red lights. Violations captured by these cameras are reviewed by the police department’s Automated Traffic Enforcement Unit and citations are mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

As of Sept. 5, 500 school buses will be equipped with FXS cameras. The goal for camera installation on all of the county’s 1,200 buses is January of 2019.

In the first two and a half years of the program, about 4,800 violations were recorded by 25 enforcement cameras. During the majority of the 2016-2017 school year, school bus cameras generated 19,566 citations, with an additional 525 violations recorded during summer school.

What to Do When Approaching a School Bus:

• When a school bus stops, the flashing red lights go on and the stop sign flaps come out, drivers in BOTH directions are required to stop. This is the most dangerous time with children getting on or off the bus.
• It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights activated and stop-sign arm extended.
• Never pass on the right side of the bus, where children enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results.
• Two-lane road: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• Two-lane road with center turn lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• Four-lane road without a center median: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a center median: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following behind the bus must stop.

Tips for Kids, Parents:

• When the bus approaches, stand at least three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb, and line up away from the street.
• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it’s OK before stepping onto the bus.
• When getting off the bus, look before stepping off the bus to be sure no cars are passing on the shoulder (side of the road). Move away from the bus as quickly as possible.
• Before crossing the street, take five “giant steps” out from the front of the bus, or until the driver’s face can be seen. Wait for the driver to signal that it’s safe to cross.
• Look left-right-left when coming to the edge of the bus to make sure traffic is stopped. Keep watching traffic when crossing.
• Use the handrails to avoid falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with drawstrings, and bookbags with straps don’t get caught in the handrails or doors.
• Never walk behind the bus.
• Walk at least three giant steps away from the side of the bus.
• If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.

»Images courtesy of Montgomery County Police