Sangamon Sun

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is highlighting the importance of school bus safety during National School Bus Safety Week, observed from October 21 to 25. The focus is on ensuring the safety of children as they travel to and from school.

School buses are recognized as one of the safest modes of transportation, yet accidents occur when drivers ignore stop signs and flashing red lights. "Even though school buses are designed to be one of the safest modes of transportation, far too many tragedies happen when drivers disregard the stop signs, ignore the flashing red lights, and fail to slow down," NHTSA stated.

The Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois State Police have identified bus stops as particularly dangerous areas for students. Children face significant risks when getting on or off buses due to illegal passing by motorists. Most fatalities in bus-related incidents involve young children struck by vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses.

Statistics reveal that between 2013 and 2022, there were 169 pedestrian deaths related to school bus incidents compared to 111 occupants. Of these fatalities, 25 were children walking. It is illegal across all states to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop-arm.

Drivers are reminded about the "Danger Zone" around a bus where children are most vulnerable. This zone includes areas within ten feet around the bus where visibility may be limited for drivers.

From 2000 to 2022, crashes caused by illegal passing resulted in 55 deaths, half involving child pedestrians. When encountering a stopped bus with yellow lights flashing, drivers should prepare to stop completely once red lights flash and the stop-arm extends.

Specific rules apply depending on road types: on two-lane roads all traffic must stop; on four-lane roads only traffic moving in the same direction as the bus must halt; on one-way roads all lanes must cease movement regardless of direction.

At railroad crossings, state law mandates that school buses halt whether or not pupils are aboard. Drivers approaching from behind must not cross tracks until it is safe.

Penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus include fines starting at $300 and license suspension for repeat offenses within five years reaching up to $1,000 fine and one-year suspension.

This year's theme for National School Bus Safety Week is “Driving Safely Into the Future.” More information can be found on NHTSA’s School Bus Safety webpage.