How are school buses loading and unloading safer?
Mandated and voluntary product and design changes in school buses and related safety equipment may have improved loading and unloading zone safety over the past few years. For example, Federal mandates require all new buses to be equipped with an 8-lamp warning system and stop signal arm.
When is it against the law to pass a school bus?
A driver of any vehicle shall stop the vehicle at least 15 feet from a school bus when its warning light is flashing unless the vehicle is on the other side of a divided median. It is against the law for any driver to pass a school bus when the school bus displays a stop signal.
How many feet does a school bus have to stop?
In rural areas, the lights are used at least 300 feet before stopping and in municipalities at least 100 feet. Flashing red lights and extended stop area means that the bus is stopped to either load or unload school children.
When to put a school bus in motion?
Do not put the bus in motion until all students outside are at a safe distance from the bus and all students inside are properly seated. Before moving the bus after loading or unloading students, look and listen for any last-second warnings from others nearby that a child might be near the bus.
Is it dangerous to unload a school bus?
Loading and unloading the school bus is the single most dangerous procedure for students and drivers. Here are alarming statistics to consider. Every year, 33 school age children die in school bus related accidents. Nearly two thirds of students killed in school bus crashes are killed outside of the bus.
What’s the proper way to load and unload a bus?
( Loading and unloading requires all your concentration. Don’t take your eyes off what is happening outside the bus. ( If there is a behavior problem on the bus, wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away. If necessary, pull the bus over to handle the problem.
A driver of any vehicle shall stop the vehicle at least 15 feet from a school bus when its warning light is flashing unless the vehicle is on the other side of a divided median. It is against the law for any driver to pass a school bus when the school bus displays a stop signal.
In rural areas, the lights are used at least 300 feet before stopping and in municipalities at least 100 feet. Flashing red lights and extended stop area means that the bus is stopped to either load or unload school children.