School Bus Safety: What CA Drivers Need to Know

Just like that, it’s back-to-school season again! That means more buses on the roads, more kids walking and biking, heavier traffic near schools, and unfortunately, more chances for dangerous encounters if drivers aren’t paying attention.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are one of the safest vehicles on the road with less than 1% of all traffic fatalities involving children on school transportation vehicles. The real danger isn’t inside the bus, it’s around it when children are loading or unloading and crossing the street. That’s why we’re reminding drivers about an important California law designed to make our roads safer for our students.

California Vehicle Code §22454

Under California vehicle code 22454, drivers must come to a full stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children and is displaying flashing red lights with its stop-arm extended.

This stop must be made whether you’re approaching the bus from behind or in front of the bus traveling the opposite way, unless the bus is on the opposite side of a divided or multi-lane highway.

California has also increased penalties for passing a stopped school bus, so failing to stop isn’t just dangerous, it’s costly.

Vineet Dubey of CD Law says, “Parents please keep this in mind. Be aware if you pass a school bus when it’s stopped and the stop sign is out, you could face a thousand dollar fine and also lose your license for up to a year. Follow this law. Be aware of this law. Let’s keep our kids safe as they’re going to school.” Click HERE to visit our Instagram page or more from Vineet, and to keep up to date on our back to school series.

School Bus Safety Basics for Drivers

• STOP when a bus has flashing red lights or its stop-arm is out even if you don’t see any children present.
• Yellow lights on a bus mean slow down and prepare to stop. Red lights mean stop.
• Leave plenty of room so children can safely cross in front of the bus without stepping into traffic.

Tips for Parents

The NHTSA recommends teaching your kids how to make it to and from school safely by teaching them to play it SAFE:

• Stay at least ten feet — five giant steps — away from the curb.
• Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.
• Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
• Exit the bus after it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

Also, make sure your child arrives at the bus stop at least 5 minutes early so they aren’t rushing into unsafe situations.

School buses carry some of our most important passengers. As drivers, parents, and community members, we all share the responsibility of keeping them safe. Saving a couple minutes on your morning or afternoon commute isn’t worth injuring a child trying to get to school, or worse. Slow down, stay alert, and of course, follow the law!