Thousands of students across Lexington County are already back in the groove of boarding, riding and hopping off a school bus multiple times a day. With school back in session and buses crisscrossing the county, it’s time to remind everyone about traffic safety tips and laws related to buses.
Bus and student safety starts right at your front door. When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking to the bus stop. Sometimes these students are thinking about getting to school or back home, but they’re not thinking about getting there safely. That’s why it’s up to us to do our part and keep an eye out for them.
Observing traffic laws around school buses is also important. It’s illegal in South Carolina to pass a school bus that has stopped to load or unload students. Different types of roads with multiple lanes and medians can trip people up on this law.
If you’re driving on a two-lane road, one in each direction, you must stop for the bus whether approaching from the front or the rear. You must remain stopped until the red lights on the bus stop flashing or the bus resumes motion.
If you’re traveling on a multilane road, one with at least two lanes of travel in each direction, you have to stop for the bus if approaching the bus from the rear and remain stopped until the red lights on the bus stop flashing or the bus resumes motion. If you’re approaching a bus from the front on a multilane road, there’s no need not stop but always proceed with caution.
The greatest risk students face isn’t riding the bus. It’s approaching, boarding or getting off one. By keeping these safety tips and traffic laws in mind, we can make sure students stay safe and ready for a great school year.