Passing a School Bus With Blinking Lights is Illegal, GT Police Remind Residents

Gloucester Township, NJ -- The Gloucester Township Police Department and Gloucester Township Public Schools have received several complaints of cars passing school buses while the red lights are on, police said Wednesday night.

“You might think that if you do not see school students,driving by a stopped school bus and ignoring its flashing red lights is okay. It is not okay,” police said. “In fact, it’s illegal. And it could turn deadly. Nationally, over the past 32 years, 414 students have been killed while in the process of being picked up or dropped off by a school bus. This translates into almost 13 deaths each year over the last three decades.”

Drivers may not have been aware of the law. Police provided a copy of the law for publication Wednesday morning:

The Law – Passing Stopped School Buses (39:4-128.1)

1) On a two-lane highway, or other road not divided by some type of physical barrier, stop at least 25 feet from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights whether or not you are traveling in the same direction as the bus.

2) Stop at least 25 feet from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights if you are on a divided highway and on the same side of the highway as the school bus.

Remain stopped until all students are safely on the bus or on the side of the highway, and until the bus’s flashing red lights have been turned off.

3) Vehicles approaching a stopped school bus – but from the opposite side of a divided highway – that is picking up or letting off students may pass at 10 mph or less and must remain at that speed until completely past the stopped school bus.

4) Travel no faster than 10 mph by a stopped school bus that is picking up or letting off students directly at a school (or day camp or any school-related activity) located on the same side of the highway where the school bus is stopped.

Note: School bus drivers are required to use flashing red lights when their bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students, and until every student is safely on the bus or clear of the bus and highway.

Fines & Points:

A violation of these laws results in a $100 fine, and up to 15 days in jail or up to 15 days community service for a first offense. For subsequent offenses, violators can receive a $250 fine or more and up to 15 days in jail. Five points are added to a driver’s record for each offense.