When do I stop for a school bus?

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Hada
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  All members of Team Ellsworth are reminded that they must abide by all traffic laws, especially near and around school buses so as not to endanger child passengers.

"It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children," said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Hill, 28th BW ground safety technician. "If yellow or red lights are flashing on a school bus, prepare to stop."

Under state legislation § 32-32-6, traffic from both directions is required to stop on undivided roadways. Drivers should stop at least 15 feet from the school bus and not proceed until flashing lights are turned off.

This law applies until all children cross the roadway and the bus begins to move. Drivers do not have to stop while traveling the opposite direction on roads with two or more lanes in each direction, said Hill.

He added that drivers should be extra cautious in school zones, residential areas, playgrounds and parks.

"Children are most vulnerable after [exiting] a bus," Hill said. "The end of the day is when excited [kids] are most likely to do something unpredictable, like run into traffic or horseplay."

The South Dakota legislature bill 32-32-9 states that anyone operating a motor vehicle in violation of § 32-32-6 shall be subject to a civil penalty and considered a misdemeanor.

Drivers are urged to always watch for children in the road, observe speed limits and use caution when traveling through school zones.

As a basic rule of thumb, when driving in a school zone, no matter what the posted speed limit, assess the situation and slow down, said Hill.

Taking precautions and obeying laws can mean the difference between life and death for a child, he added.