As Florida schools get rolling, traffic is picking up. How to share the road with school buses

Another school year has started, which means motorists are sharing the road with school buses carrying some very precious cargo. But does everyone know how to correctly drive with buses rejoining the streets?

According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2022 alone, there were almost 3,000 crashes that involved school buses.

"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 wrote online. "Parents should also go over safety tips with their children to make sure they are safe on and around school buses and school zones."

Here's what to know about the laws surrounding pass school passes and how to stay safe:

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When should I stop for a school bus in Florida?

Motorists in Florida are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and "STOP" arms extended. Per the FLHSMV, they outline the rules as:

• All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
• On a highway divided by a paved median, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
• The only time traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop, is if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least 5 feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic.
• On a highway divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least 5 feet wide, drivers moving in the opposite direction do not have to stop for the bus (painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers). However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.

What do the flashing lights mean?

According to Progressive, you must stop for a school bus if you're traveling behind the bus and it comes to a stop, regardless of whether it has any flashing lights. Here's what to do for each flashing light:

• When yellow lights start flashing, slow down. Don’t try to pass the bus before it stops. Some states require you to go down to a specific speed limit when the yellow lights flash. All states want you to slow down and prepare to stop.
• When the red lights flash, stop. Some states require you to stop at specific distances from the bus. The minimum may be anywhere from 20 to 100 feet.
• When the lights stop flashing, proceed with caution. You can start driving again but be especially alert for children running to and from the bus stop as you pass

Is it illegal to pass a school bus in Florida?

According to Florida's School Bus Stop Law, school buses must stop at designated bus stops whenever possible and it is considered a moving violation to pass one while it is stopped.

What is the fine for passing a school bus in Florida?

Since January 2021, the penalties for failing to stop for a school bus and passing a stopped school bus on the side where children enter and exit have doubled.

Penalties for passing a stopped school bus include:

• Moving violation subject to citation;
• The requirement to complete a basic Driver Improvement Course upon conviction;
• Four points on your driver's license
• A minimum fine of $165, if you pass on the side where children enter and exit, you will receive a minimum fine of $265.

The FLHSMV also notes that using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner while driving in a designated school crossing, school zone, or active work zone area is against the law.

On July 1, 2017, the Cameron Mayhew Act took effect in Florida, which aimed to increase the minimum penalty for drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus, resulting in the injury or death of another person. Cameron Mayhew was killed by a motorist that failed to stop as he was walking to his stopped school bus in 2016.

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Penalties for passing a stopped school bus that causes or results in serious bodily injury or the death of another person include:

• Serving 120 community service hours in a trauma center or hospital
• Participating in a victim’s impact panel session, or if such a panel does not exist, attending an FLHSMV-approved driver improvement course
• Six points on your driver's license
• Suspension of license for a minimum of one year
• $1,500 fine.

What are school zones?

School zones are speed limit signs placed outside of schools that are enforced only during certain hours.

As defined in s. 334.03, a school zone speed limit may not be less than 15 mph except by local regulation. No school zone speed limit shall be more than 20 mph in an urbanized area.

Such speed limit may be enforced only during those times 30 minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after the periods of time when pupils are arriving at a regularly scheduled breakfast program or a regularly scheduled school session and leaving a regularly scheduled school session.

What tips should students, parents, and motorists keep in mind when sharing the road with buses?

• At bus stops, children should wait in a safe place away from the road. Never sit on the roadway or curb while waiting for your bus.
• Make sure your children know their bus driver’s name and bus number
• Be alert and watch for children, especially near schools, bus stops, school buses, and in school parking lots.
• Pay extra attention to lower speed limits while in school zones.
• Children should look both ways before crossing the street- look left, right and left again. Tell them to make eye contact to make sure the bus driver can see them as they cross the street.
• On the bus, children should remain seated at all times and keep the aisle clear. Tell children not to put their head, hands, or arms out the window.
• Children should avoid any loud or disruptive behavior that could distract the bus driver from safely operating the bus.
• Watch for and obey signals from school crossing guards.
• Only drive or park in authorized areas to drop off or pick up children at school.