PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: This is NOT difficult my friends. A simple rule. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus!!!! Even at an intersection, even in the country, even in a parking lot! If the lights on a bus are flashing...STOP! And stay stopped!! You have NO idea which direction kids are going to run once they step off that bus...I dont even know which direction they are gonna run. You need to STOP! Im sure the rush you are in will seem trivial if you ever run a child over. If I could write a ticket to everyone who violates this law...I would right at least 20 tickets per week. No kidding! If any of my law officer friends can elaborate on this, please do! Please...share this with every driver in your household!! The majority of children injured or killed in pupil transportation are not injured or killed on the school bus, but outside the bus. Most are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop arm. The area around the bus is often referred to as the “DEATH ZONE.” When the red lights at the top of the bus are flashing and the stop arm panel is extended, motorists are required to STOP at any location. This includes, but is not limited to, motorists traveling from either direction on a two-lane roadway; motorists traveling in any lane on a one-way street; and/or motorists traveling through parking lots. The only exception to this law is as follows: The driver of a vehicle upon a highway having four or more lanes which permits at least two lanes of traffic to travel in opposite directions need not stop such vehicle upon meeting a school bus which is stopped in the opposing roadway; and need not stop such vehicle when driving upon a controlled access highway when passing a school bus traveling in either direction that is stopped in a loading zone adjacent to the surfaced or improved part of the controlled access highway where pedestrians are not permitted to cross. Flashing amber lights are activated during the last 100 feet traveled by the school bus before stopping within an urban area (200 feet outside an urban area). The amber flashing signal lamps serve as a pre-warning that the bus is preparing to stop. Flashing red lights and the extended stop arm mean that the bus is stopped to either load or unload school children. Any person convicted of passing a stopped school bus will lose his/her driving privileges for 3 months and be fined $150. If a motorist is convicted a second or subsequent time within 5 years of the original conviction, his/her driving privileges will be suspended for one year and he/she will be fined $500. If you have any questions regarding school bus regulations, contact the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety, Commercial Vehicle Safety Section at (217) 785-1181 or TTY (217) 524-4875.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:43:52 +0000
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