By New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, R-C-Rome, 53rd Senate District
School will be back in session before we know it, and school buses will again become a common sight on our roads and in our communities.
While it is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that stops to load or unload children, the number of drivers passing stopped school buses that have their lights flashing happens too frequently.
Here in New York, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation estimates that motorists in the state illegally pass stopped school buses over 50,000 times per day.
According to the association, New York State Vehicle and Traffic law requires all vehicles come to a full stop when approaching a school bus stopped with its red lights flashing. Those lights mean that a child is either boarding or disembarking a school bus. New York state law prohibits the passing of a school bus that stops with red lights flashing regardless of your direction of travel and even on a multi-lane or divided highway.
Penalties for a first-time offense include a fine from $250 to $400 and the possibility of 30 days in jail. A second conviction within three years will result in a $600 to $750 fine and up to 180 days in jail, while three or more convictions will result in a fine from $750 to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail. Five points will be added to the operator’s driving record for each conviction.
The National Safety Council recommends that, if you are driving behind a bus, you should allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. This will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing, according to the council.
Other recommendations from the council include:
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Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children.
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If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.
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The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
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Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.
With school starting back up and more buses on the road, it is important that drivers slow down and pay more attention to their surroundings. You might just save a life by doing so.
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