When Florida motorists are required to stop for school buses

TAMPA, Fla. — The begin of the brand new school 12 months means buses will probably be again on the roads carrying very valuable cargo, however some motorists nonetheless break legal guidelines when it comes to sharing the street — and the results could be lethal.

According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2021 alone, there have been 2,700 crashes that concerned school buses. Find statistics for Tampa Bay space counties on the finish of this text.

“Motorists should always be alert and drive with caution around school buses and in school zones where children may be present like schools, bus stops, school buses and school parking lots,” FLHSMV says on their website. “Parents should also go over safety tips with their children to make sure they are safe on and around school buses and school zones.”

As of January 2021, the penalties for failure to stop for a school bus doubled, in accordance to FLHSMV.

The penalty for failure to stop for a school bus went from a minimal $100 to $200, and if a second offense is dedicated in 5 years, the individual’s license will probably be suspended for up to one 12 months.

The penalty for passing a school bus on the facet that youngsters enter and exit when the school bus shows a stop sign went from a minimal of $200 to $400, and if a second offense is dedicated in 5 years, the individual’s license could be suspended up to two years.

School Bus Safety Tips for Motorists:

• Be alert and watch for youngsters particularly close to colleges, bus stops, school buses and in school parking tons.
• Children on bicycles could be unpredictable and might make sudden modifications in path. Be particularly cautious when youngsters are current in school zones and residential areas.
• Pay additional consideration to decrease velocity limits in school zones.
• Watch for and obey alerts from school crossing guards.
• Only drive or park in licensed areas to drop off or choose up youngsters at school.
• Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that’s stopped with its purple lights flashing and STOP arms prolonged. (See the totally different conditions within the diagram under)

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• All drivers shifting in both path on a two-way road should stop for a school bus displaying a stop sign, and should stay stopped till the street is obvious of kids AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn. (see diagram, TWO-LANE)
• On a freeway divided by a paved median, all drivers shifting in both path should stop for a school bus displaying a stop sign, and should stay stopped till the street is obvious of kids AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn. (see diagram, MULTI-LANE)
• The solely time site visitors approaching an oncoming school bus doesn’t want to stop, is that if there’s a raised barrier similar to a concrete divider or at the least 5 ft of unpaved area separating the lanes of site visitors. (see diagram, DIVIDED HIGHWAY)
• On a freeway divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at the least 5 ft large, drivers shifting in the other way should not have to stop for the bus (painted traces or pavement markings are not thought of obstacles). However, these motorists ought to decelerate and watch for college students loading or unloading from the bus. (see diagram, DIVIDED HIGHWAY)

School Bus Safety Tips for Parents and Children

• Arrive on the bus stop with about 5 minutes earlier than the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• At bus stops, youngsters ought to wait in a secure place away from the street. Never sit on the roadway or curb whereas ready for your bus.
• Make certain your youngsters know their bus driver’s title and bus quantity.
• Tell youngsters to by no means converse to strangers on the bus stop or get into the automobile with a stranger. Children ought to inform mother and father, the bus driver and a instructor at school if a stranger tries to speak to them or choose them up.
• Children ought to by no means stroll behind a bus and may steer clear of bus wheels always. When the bus stops, youngsters ought to wait for the motive force’s sign that it’s secure to cross the street or board the bus.
• Children ought to look each methods earlier than crossing the street- look left, proper and left once more. Tell them to make eye contact to be sure the bus driver can see them as they cross the road.
• On the bus, youngsters ought to stay seated always and hold the aisle clear. Tell youngsters not to put their head, fingers or arms out the window.
• Remind youngsters to stop speaking and stay silent when the bus comes to a railroad crossing so the motive force can hear if a prepare is approaching.
• Children ought to keep away from any loud or disruptive conduct that would distract the bus driver from safely working the bus.
• Refer to the official Florida Driver License Handbook for extra information on school bus security.

Crashes involving school buses within the Tampa Bay space in 2021, according to FLHSMV.

• Hillsborough: 196
• Pinellas: 108
• Polk: 100
• Pasco: 74
• Sarasota: 35
• Manatee: 33
• Citrus: 15
• Hernando: 20
• DeSoto: 4
• Highlands: 8
• Hardee: 3