School Bus Safety Laws
From LoveToKnow Safety
In the United States, school bus safety laws are not embedded in a type of federal code. Standards that apply to school buses and the equipment placed on them are under federal jurisdiction, and manufacturers of those products are required to conform to those standards.
School Bus Safety Laws in the News
According to a news story released on July 1, 2008, 750,000 people illegally pass a school bus every day in the United States. In New York State alone, approximately 80,000 drivers fail to stop as required by law. It is against the law to pass a school bus that is stopped and has its red lights flashing. This is a very dangerous practice, since the lives of children trying to get on or off the bus are endangered when drivers don't follow these very basic school bus safety laws.
Stopping for a School Bus
In many jurisdictions, a driver is legally required to stop and wait when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing. Traffic in both directions is required to come to a full stop no closer than 100 feet from the school bus. A possible exception to this rule is if the traffic is on the opposite side of a divided highway.
If you are traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway, you are still required to stop for a school bus with light flashing in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- New York State
- West Virginia
Law Varies from State to State
Each state is responsible for writing school bus safety laws and determining under which circumstances a driver is required to stop for a school bus with lights flashing. Even what constitutes a school bus for purposes of the legislation is subject to interpretation.
Under a recent amendment to Texas state law, school buses bought after September 1, 2010 need to be outfitted with seat belts. Any charter buses being used after 2011 to carry students must also have three-point lap and shoulder belts. A total of 10 states are taking part in a pilot program to install seat belts in school buses.
The new Texas law also states that all students and staff members must attend a school bus safety training session to ensure that they know where all the emergency exits are located, as well as how to operate them. Surviving a school bus crash is only part of the equation; being able to exit the vehicle safely is also a concern. These training sessions must be conducted twice a year.
Bus drivers are also subject to specific provisions under the law:
- No alcohol-related convictions within the previous 10 years
- If the driver's seat of the school bus is equipped with a seat belt, the driver is required to wear it.
Difficulties Enforcing the Law
Part of the problem with attempting to enforce the school bus stopping law is that a police officer must witness the driver failing to stop in order for the driver to face criminal charges. Even if a driver is brought to justice, a judge may rule that there is insufficient evidence for a conviction or be reluctant to convict the accused person due to the severe penalties attached to this type of offense.
A conviction for failing to stop for a school bus with lights flashing carries with it a heavy fine as well as possible demerit points. In some states, a driver who fails to stop for a school bus may have his or her license suspended as well.
Improving school bus safety laws can only make riding on a school bus safer for students as they travel to and from school or to extracurricular activities.
