Summer is winding down and students are headed back to school. With buses back on the road, it is a good idea to remind ourselves of the law when it comes to school bus safety. Remember, school buses are like traffic signals: yellow means prepare to stop, red means stop, and hazards flashing means to proceed with caution. For more on this, visit the Michigan State Police’s School Bus Safety page.
School bus safety tips for drivers:
- Prepare to stop when a slowing bus has its overhead yellow lights flashing
- Stop at least 20 feet away for buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway
- Slow down in or near school and residential areas
- Look for clues-such as safety patrols, crossing guards, bicycles, and playgrounds-that indicate children might be in the area
- Watch for children between parked cars and other objects
School bus safety tips for students:
- Always stay in sight of the bus driver
- Don’t hurry off the bus; check traffic first
- Don’t go back to the bus after exiting
