Driving Safely Around School Buses – Laws and Safety Tips

The beginning of the school year is a time when children are at an increased risk of transportation-related injuries from pedestrian, bicycle, school bus, and motor vehicle crashes. This is because there is more traffic on the roads each morning and afternoon, and the increased traffic causes many drivers to change their driving patterns. Parents should go over safety tips with their children to make sure they are safe on and around school buses and school zones.

School buses are the safest way for students to get to school. Still, children are especially vulnerable as they get on and off the bus. In Maryland, bus safety laws are in place to help drivers safely navigate the roads where children might be crossing. Maryland school buses carry precious cargo – our children. Motorists should always be alert and drive with caution around school buses and in school zones where students may be present like schools, bus stops, school buses and school parking lots.

To help keep kids safe, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) encourages parents and teachers to talk with their children about the importance of safety before and after school starts. The back-to-school season is a great time to teach, motivate, practice, and encourage safety habits as students travel to and from school.

Parents, students, schools, childcare facilities, and others should take advantage of the information offered here. Maryland enforces stringent school bus safety rules to protect students during their commutes.

Maryland School Bus Laws

Though school buses are designed to prioritize safety, students are vulnerable when waiting for, boarding or leaving the bus. The 10-foot area extending from each side of the bus is considered a danger zone for children, so laws are intended to keep all cars away whenever children will be in that area. When a school bus prepares to stop for children, it will alert drivers via flashing yellow lights. Motorists should use extreme caution, slowing with the bus and preparing to stop, as children may enter the roadway unexpectedly. Once the bus is stopped, it will extend a stop signal, or stop-arm, and the flashing lights will change to red; requiring all drivers to stop no closer than 20 feet from the bus. During this period, children will be getting on or off the bus. Motorists must come to a complete stop if any of the following are true:

• A motorist is traveling the same direction as the school bus. This is true whether the road has one lane, multiple lanes, or a central turning lane.
• A motorist is traveling in the opposite direction and the road does NOT have a dirt, grass, or barrier median. In other words, if there is no physical median, you must stop even if the bus is on the other side of the road. (Note: In some states, you must stop for school buses even on a divided highway.)

Remember, motorists must stop at least 20 feet from the bus, regardless of which direction they are approaching. They must not attempt to pass by the bus until the stop signal and flashing lights are off and the bus is in motion once again. Violation of these laws incurs a $250 fine if caught on camera, and up to $570 and a three-point penalty on a driver’s license if stopped by a police officer, or state trooper.

Safety Tips for Motorists

• Remain alert while driving. If you are distracted by your cell phone, the radio, or other things within or outside the vehicle, you could miss seeing a child in the roadway, or miss seeing the stopped school bus with its stop arm, and lights flashing.
• If you are behind a school bus that is slowing to a stop, do not try to pass it before it puts out its signal to avoid the wait. You could strike a student who is running to catch the bus.
• When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, be especially mindful of children walking or biking to school.
• Remember that children often move in a way that is unexpected, and they may not know where to look for traffic. You know the rules of the road; often they do not.
• Never assume children see or hear your vehicle, or that they are aware you are approaching. If you see them, give them the right-of-way.
• Watch carefully for children waiting or playing at the bus stop. They may enter the roadway accidentally.
• If you live in a neighborhood near a school, watch out for children who are walking or biking to or from school.

Back to school means sharing the roadways. More than half of school students in Maryland begin and end their day with a trip on a school bus.

Keeping Children Safe

As a parent, guardian, teacher, caregiver, teach children these basic safety tips to help them avoid getting struck by a vehicle on the way to or from school:

• Be on time. Children are in danger of being injured if they are running for the bus because they think they will miss it by being late. Try to be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
• Keep a safe distance from the road. Teach students not to sit, stand, or play on the curb while waiting for the bus. Show them a safe spot at least five giant steps away from the bus stop where they should wait.
• Stay out of the danger zone. Explain to them that standing or walking too close to the bus will make it difficult for the bus driver or other motorists to see them.
• Wait for the bus driver’s signal. Teach children to line up when the bus arrives. They should wait until the door opens and the bus driver signals them to get on before approaching the bus.
• Board one at a time. Teach children to enter the bus single file.
• Exit one at a time. Children may need reminders to slow down, use the handrail, and exit the bus single file so nobody gets injured. That is especially important when it is the end of the day and they are excited to get home.
• Look both ways before getting off the school bus. Teach children to watch for vehicles when they exit any car, including a school bus. Once they exit, they should walk directly to the sidewalk and out of the danger zone.
• Cross the street carefully. Before crossing the street, children should be aware to take five giant steps out from the front of the bus if there is no crossing arm and make sure you can see the face of any driver. They should wait for the driver to signal that it is safe to cross, and look left-right-left when coming to the edge of the bus to make sure traffic is stopped. It is also important to keep watching traffic when crossing.
• Never walk behind the bus. Be sure children know to cross the street in front of the bus, never behind it.
• Tell the driver if you drop something. Teach children never to bend down in front of (or near) a bus if they drop something. The bus driver might not see them.
• Always use crosswalks and traffic signals when available. Children should always use crossing guards, crosswalks, and other helpful traffic controls to get home safely when those resources are available.

We Are Ready to Help. Contact Us Today

Back to school is an exciting time! Driving with caution at peak times for school buses can help keep everyone safe. School buses are more than just a means of transportation; they are vital lifelines ensuring that students safely reach their educational destinations.

Call our knowledgeable attorneys at the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt to schedule a free consultation to learn more about the laws of driving around school buses in Maryland. We are prepared to help your child if they are involved in an auto accident that occurred near a bus stop or school and to maximize your compensation. Even though compensation will not make up for the trauma and worry, it can help you move forward and provide the funds for the medical care your child may require. If this happens to you or a loved one, call us at 443-844-1528 anytime day or night. We can also be reached by email at carol@littaccidentlaw.com.