Watch For Students, Buses On Commute

We've probably all seen it. A bus comes to a stop, the little red stop sign swings out, kids prepare to get off - and a car zooms by the bus. 

Drivers often disregard stopped school buses, putting children's lives in dangers in order to shave a few minutes off their driving time. 

It's dangerous, reckless and irresponsible. 

It's also illegal. 

As students prepare to return to school, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety as tips that drivers needed to be aware of regarding school buses and their passengers:  

Motorists need to observe traffic safety rules around school buses. First and foremost, they must know and understand the school bus laws in their state. In particular, they must be aware that it is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that has stopped to load or unload students.

Motorists must learn the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists that they are going to stop to load or unload students. 

Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.

Red flashing lights and extended stop arm indicate that the bus has stopped and that children are getting on or off.

Motorists on any highway that has only two-travel lanes, one in each direction, must stop for the bus whether approaching from the front or overtaking from the rear and remain stopped until the lights are no longer activated or the bus resumes motion.

Motorist traveling on multi-lane roadways, which have at least two lanes of travel in each direction, must stop for the bus if overtaking the bus from the rear and remain stopped until the lights are no longer activated or the bus resumes motion, however motorist approaching a bus from the front, on this type multi-lane roadway need not stop but proceed with caution.