Why do people still stop for school buses that are on the other side of the road?

Question

About 10 years ago (more in some states), it was made illegal in most states for children to cross more than one lane of traffic. That means that side streets are pretty much the only place you need to stop for school buses. It is SO annoying when you are on a road that is 4 lanes wide and people STILL Stop!!!! When is the last time you heard of a kid getting run over trying to cross the road? You don't because they have to be dropped off on the side of the road they live on.... unless it is a side street and then of course you still must stop. Don't argue unless you have a link to your states site that proves me wrong... you won't be able to though...

Seriously, I don't care if you drove a bus for 20 years... show me a link in writing to prove me wrong because you may not even know the laws changed...

My god people they are kids, not ANTS. You can see pretty clearly if a kid is anywhere close to walking in front of you. It's not like they fly!!!!

Answer 1

To my knowledge, no school child, alighting from a school bus, has been killed by crossing a four lane hwy.
Since that law was passed.

Answer 2

Please, tone down the vitriol, my friend. You have the answer, pretty clearly stated in your question.

It's just that most people don't know the law regarding school busses. No need to throw out challenges if all you want to do is educate people. Did you really expect most people to know about an obscure law change, made 10 years ago, in MOST states?

Of course they wont. What IS missing is an awareness of the laws in each individual driver's state.

I learned to drive over 40 years ago, when the basic rule in California is you STOP for the flashing red lights on a school bus WHATEVER side of the road. Back then, the issue was about people who didn't stop, and the resultant injuries to children. I have never had to take a written test since.

If you have to blame somone, blame the states departments of motor vehicles and the governers who didn't think to make much of a big deal about a very important change to the rules of the road.

A am a certified trainer for National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course 4. We discuss this issue with virtually every class, and most people are VERY surprised to learn this, no matter how long the person has been driving. I know this surprises people and that's why I cover it.

Now, here's the thing, and why I take exception to the tone of your quesition. The law YOU describe is not univesal. (either that, or you have it wrong) Also, even the driver's handbook, which is intended to cover relevant motor vehicle code regulations in a simplified, plain English form still covers this law in a way more suited to readers of Legalese.

In California, the law prohibits a driver from passing a school bus with flashing red lights, in EITHER direction. Then, as if it were an afterthought, in a separate paragraph, states that "this does not apply to vehicles approaching from the other side of a multi lane highway or a divided highway.

It means, that school children, under the bus driver's direction and supervision, may have to cross two lanes of traffic. And yes, children still die, because some drivers wont bother to stop even when they are required to.

I, too get frustrated when drivers stop when they are not required to. I recognize the dangers they create. My defense, which I advise you to adopt, is to not follow so closely behind a car that may stop for any number of reasons, with no warning what so ever. They may be parallel parking, stopping for a dog or a ball, perhaps looking for an address, or even thoughtlessly stopping to chat with a pedestrian on the sidewalk. By the way, a clue that someone MAY stop is the big yellow bus with the flashing red lights across the street.

Another driver's carelessness or ignorance does not give me any reason to plow into them or come to a panic stop.

So, you and me, lets spread the word. No need to be rude or confrontive. Just educate.

Answer 3

Every states laws are different and the wisest thing for anyone to do would be to check with local law enforcement.

In New Hampshire if the roadway is divided by a median you do not have to stop, however if there is no median I believe you do have to stop. Although the buses drop off on the side the kids live on, unless it is a back road.

But I agree with other comments, it is better to wait 5 minutes then possibly run someone down.

If your time is more precious than a child, leave earlier or stay of school bus routes.

Seriously I would say this question was posted by someone the has never had kids.

Answer 4

§ 545.066. PASSING A SCHOOL[0] BUS[0]; OFFENSE. (a) An
operator on a highway, when approaching from EITHER DIRECTION a
school[0] bus[0] stopped on the highway to receive or discharge a student:
(1) shall stop before reaching the school[0] bus[0] when the
bus[0] is operating a visual signal as required by Section 547.701;
and
(2) may not proceed until:
(A) the school[0] bus[0] resumes motion;
(B) the operator is signaled by the bus[0] driver to
proceed; or
(C) the visual signal is no longer actuated.
(b) An operator on a highway having separate roadways is not
required to stop:
(1) for a school[0] bus[0] that is on a different roadway;
or
(2) if on a controlled-access highway, for a school[0]
bus[0] that is stopped:
(A) in a loading zone that is a part of or
adjacent to the highway; and
(B) where pedestrians are not permitted to cross
the roadway.

Answer 5

I agree. I do know the law was changed, however, there was never like a memorandum that went around that said "Attention Drivers: you are now allowed to continue to drive on the opposite side of the road." The only way people hear of these changes are 1) from their kid, niece, nephew, who just got their license and had to learn all the laws - and people tend to not believe 16 year olds and 2) from other educated people they trust. I hate to say it will just take time, since it has been a long time, but I guess it will. Where I live people do not stop on 4 or more laned roads, only on 2 lane. Maybe in a very nice conversational way you can mention it to everyone you know and they can pass it on, and eventually everyone will know.

Answer 6

Many people still want to be safe. Also a lot of smaller towns (my hometown) you can still cross the street with multiple lanes. I stop just because who knows the child may run out into traffic. They aren't adults yet, and common sense isn't all there. Just a thought.

Answer 7

Kids are a little like chickens. They are amazingly quick and astonishingly unpredictable. Regardless of what the law says, they will do nearly anything that pops into their little heads without giving consequences that first thought.

THAT is why people still stop.

Even if the driver of a car is 100% in the right, a run-over kid is hard to get over.

Answer 8

I don't how people drive in your part of town, but here in NYC, its the law to stop even though the school bus is on the other side of the road. Kids have to cross the street in front of the bus into oncoming traffic. And here in NYC, there are people who got their licenses from a cracker jack box.

Answer 9

In maximum states, when you're on an multi-lane street with none type of median, then site visitors in all guidelines might want to provide up for a school bus exhibiting it is pink lighting fixtures and warning signs. If the line has a grassy median or a "Jersey wall" barrier, then site visitors in the oncoming lanes are literally not required to provide up.

Answer 10

In Arizona you must stop for the school bus if the stop sign is out and the lights are flashing, even if you are on the other side of the road, unless it is a divided road. A divided road means that there is a surface not meant to drive on, such as grass, cable barrier, dirt, etc, between you and the bus.

If you are supposed to stop and don't, it is a criminal offense (misdemeanor) in Arizona.

Per ARS 38-857.

Here is the link:

http://www.azleg.gov/search/oop/qfullhit.asp?CiWebHitsFile=/ars/28/00857.htm&CiRestriction=%22school+bus%22&CiBeginHilite=&CiEndHilite=&CiHiliteType=Full

Answer 11

In Indiana you don't have to stop on a four lane road if you're in the opposite set of lanes from the bus and the median is at least 20 feet wide.