Driving safely around school buses

Getting caught behind a school bus may add a bit more time to your commute, but with a little extra patience and attention, you can do your part to help kids get to and from school safely.

Here are some quick tips to keep in mind whenever you’re driving near a school bus.

School bus safety rules and you

By following the school bus safety laws and best practices below, you’ll be on your way to helping kids in your community stay safe as they go to and from school:

Give yourself some extra time. If your route to or from work often puts you behind a school bus, plan ahead. Build in time to start your commute earlier to allow for stops and not feel rushed.

Don’t pass when kids are getting on or off the bus. If a school bus is stopped to load or unload passengers, it’s illegal in all 50 states to go around it. Children may need to cross the street in front of the bus, and they can be hard to see from behind a large vehicle.

Watch for flashing lights and the stop arm. Blinking yellow or red lights and an extended stop arm are a school bus’s signal that children may be entering or crossing the roadway. Come to a complete stop and stay alert even after the lights turn off and the stop arm is retracted because kids may still be nearby.

Know your state’s rules. School bus laws vary by state, including what drivers must do when approaching a school bus from the opposite direction. A quick check of your state’s guidelines can help you drive with confidence—and avoid getting a ticket.

Expect the unexpected. Kids can be unpredictable, especially around buses and busy streets. Slow down, leave extra space, and look carefully for children stepping into the roadway.

Drive with a safety-first mindset. When you see a school bus, assume kids could be nearby even if you don’t see them right away. Maintain a safe following distance, avoid distractions, and be ready to stop.

At American Family Insurance, we’re all about protecting what matters most, including children traveling to and from school. Thanks for doing your part to keep school zones and bus stops safer.

This article is for informational purposes only. The information is widely available through different sources. We do not make any guarantees or promise any results based on this information.