School buses

• Flashing Yellow Lights. When you're approaching a school bus that has flashing yellow lights it is to alert drivers on the road that it preparing to stop to either pick-up or drop of children. Drivers are to proceed with caution.

• Flashing Red Lights. A bus using flashing red lights to alert drivers that the bus has stopped and is letting children on or off the bus. Drivers are to STOP. Once the flashing lights are turned off and the bus begins to proceed, it is then ok for drivers to proceed as well. If a driver violates this law there can be serious consequences, such as a traffic fee or even 100 hours of community service to be served at the school. Please see the full version of the law below:

• 257.682 Stopping for school bus displaying flashing red lights; exception; violation as civil infraction; meeting stopped school bus on divided highway; evidence; community service.

• Sec. 682. (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus which has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately flashing red lights located at the same level shall bring the vehicle to a full stop not less than 20 feet from the school bus and shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer actuated. At an intersection where traffic is controlled by an officer or a traffic stop-and-go signal a vehicle need not be brought to a full stop before passing a stopped school bus, but may proceed past the school bus at a speed not greater than is reasonable and proper but not greater than 10 miles an hour and with due caution for the safety of passengers being received or discharged from the school bus. The driver of a vehicle who fails to stop for a school bus as required by this subsection, who passes a school bus in violation of this subsection, or who fails to stop for a school bus in violation of an ordinance that complies with this subsection, is responsible for a civil infraction. (2) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway which has been divided into 2 roadways by leaving an intervening space, or by a physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing sections so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic, need not stop upon meeting a school bus which has stopped across the dividing space, barrier, or section. (3) In a proceeding for a violation of subsection (1), proof that the particular vehicle described in the citation was in violation of subsection (1), together with proof that the defendant named in the citation was, at the time of the violation, the registered owner of the vehicle, shall constitute in evidence a presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the violation. (4) In addition to the civil fine and costs provided for a civil infraction under section 907, the judge, district court referee, or district court magistrate may order a person who violates this section to perform not to exceed 100 hours of community service at a school.

• Make sure to not block crosswalks. They are there to allow pedestrians a safe route when crossing traffic.

• Obey school speed limit zones. Children may not stay in the designated crosswalks, so it's important to be at the appropriate speed to give you enough time to react should a child dart in front of your car.

(National Safety Council, Itasca, IL., Back to School: Safety tips for motorists.

http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/SafetyObservances/Documents/

Back%20to%20School/Back%20to%20School%20Safety%20Tips%20for%20Motorists.pdf).

• Talk to them about traveling to and from school safely. Stress the importance of using the crosswalks and sidewalks.

• When traveling with children in the car make sure they are all belted in appropriately. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends for babies infant-only or rear-facing convertible seats with harness straps at or below the shoulder. Children over one year and between 20-40 lbs should ride in a convertible/forward facing seat with harnesses at or above the shoulders. Children ages eight and older should be in forward-facing booster seats with the seat belt fitting low and tight across the lap or at the upper tight and chest.

(Jiffy Lube, Safety Tips for Back to School, http://www.jiffylubeca.com/safety_tips_back_to_school.php).

• Set restrictions on the number of passengers allowed in the car at one time. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, just one passenger increases a teen's chance of an accident by 48%.

• No cell phones! The National Safety Council reports that 23% of all accidents a year involve distraction from a cell phone.

• Seat belts are not optional. Buckling up can reduce the risk of accident related injuries by 50% according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(National Safety Council, Itasca, IL.

Teen Driving Safety: Graduate Driver Licensing saves lives.

http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/SafetyObservances/Documents/Back%20to%20School/Teen%20Driving.pdf).