Sharing the road safely with school buses

Did you know that school buses are much safer than other vehicles on the road? The government sets all kinds of regulations on what kind of vehicle can be used to transport students to school, how that vehicle is built, how many people can ride the bus, and where they should be. Sit down. And it is good that these regulations are in force; the result is that there are relatively few student deaths each year.

However, collisions involving school buses and students still occur, and sometimes these collisions result in death. Most of the dead were not those who were on the bus: they walked, got into other vehicles or went by bicycle.

As a driver, there are many things you can do to help protect others. How to share the road safely with school buses? Here are some helpful tips.

Flashing Red and Amber Lights - School buses have amber lights to warn drivers to stop and flashing red lights and an expandable stop sign to tell drivers to stop. Yellow does not mean going faster, it means going slower. Be aware of your surroundings and always come to a complete stop. Do not continue driving until the lights go out and the signal is removed.

Passing a school bus - It is illegal to pass a school bus on the right side of the road because you cannot know where the bus must stop to get on or off. A safe driver Always wait for the bus to move into the right lane or keep a safe distance behind it. Additionally, it is illegal in all 50 states to pass a stopped school bus to load or unload children. You must stop the vehicle at least 10 feet from the school bus to allow passengers to get on and off safely.

Railroad Crossings - In most states, school buses are required to stop at all railroad crossings. Be alert when there is an intersection in front of you and a school bus nearby so that you can stop too.

Divided Roads - You must always stop to turn on your red lights; however, most states do not require drivers to stop when on the other side of a divided highway. Be very careful if you find yourself in this situation, as passengers may try to cross in this area, especially if there is a crosswalk.

Buses need room to turn- Like trucks, buses have a wide turning radius. Remember to give them enough leeway so that they can easily maneuver on the road.

Be on the lookout for children waiting for the bus-As a driver, you are responsible for watching the road and children waiting for the bus. Come to a complete stop at all traffic lights and stop signs, drive slowly near bus stops, and watch children cross the street.

Slow down-be careful when driving in residential or school areas. The fines for speeding in an area can be hefty!

Allow more time during the trip-school bus drivers must follow the same speed limit rules as all other drivers; however, they make frequent stops that can slow traffic. Know the bus routes in your community and allow plenty of travel time when school is open.

Stay out of blind spots- Although bus drivers have large mirrors, they may not be able to see you. Slow down and let the bus change lanes if the bus driver starts blinking. 

• Only pass the school bus on the left side and never leave the driver's blind spot to do so.
• If you cannot see any of the mirrors on the bus you are following, the driver may not be able to see you either.
• Never pass a school bus while the driver signals you to stop or change lanes. 

Keep Alert and take it seriously

Most of the Dubai schools focus on the driver who acts as the safer driver Dubai when driving the bus as thousands of drivers are fined every year for illegally driving school buses. In addition to putting children at risk, these drivers can be fined hundreds of dollars, earn driving record points and have their licenses suspended.

When should oncoming traffic stop for school buses?

While drivers should stop at least 10 feet from a school bus transporting or unloading children in Dubai.

If you are approaching the bus from the wrong direction, plan to stop if you see the lights flashing and the stop arm extended. On divided roads, drivers are legally required to stop.

On divided roads, where a median or other form of physical barrier separates lanes going in opposite directions, the need to stop depends on the specific traffic rules for that state. In some states, the size of the barrier is also a factor. Make sure you are familiar with the laws of your state and if you are traveling, the laws of another state. When in doubt, be careful.

State law also determines how far you can legally approach a stopped school bus. While drivers should stop at least 10 feet from a school bus transporting or unloading children in Dubai, they should be 25 feet away. 

Again, do your best to find out what is required of you when sharing the road with school buses in your state and whatever state you are visiting. If you don't know what the law says, be careful and allow more space for the bus and children.

To ensure that you can stop with enough room, you should always allow for a greater tracking distance when driving behind a school bus.

Results

Part of the problem is that, frankly, a lot of drivers don't know what to do in the different situations that arise when sharing the road with a school bus.

Fortunately, you already knew that when a school bus pulls up in front of you to pick up the kids, you can't just dodge it to pass. However, you might not be sure what to do if you are in the other lane or if a bus has yellow lights but not red ones.