The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s New Philadelphia Post is reminding of safety as students head back to the classroom.
Lt. Bryan Sponaugle says there will be an increased pedestrian presence during certain times of the mornings and afternoons.
“Crosswalks are going to be busier and the school buses that are going to be out on the road. Going to have to pay special close attention when those buses are stopped are known that it’s illegal to pass a stopped school bus. Pay attention to these numbers of student that are going to be out there, and a lot of school buses are now equipped with a camera on them to get a photo of that vehicle passing a stopped school bus.”
When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, all vehicles traveling in both directions must come to a complete stop at least 10 feet from the bus. This applies to two-lane roads and roads with a center turning lane.
Sponaugle reminds motorists that it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus.
“An excuse we hear is a bus put its lights on very quickly and they didn’t have time to stop, or drivers aren’t just paying attention. We’ve also seen where the camera catches the violator passing the bus and they’re clearly distracted with an electronic device.”
He adds that on roads with four or more lanes, or divided highways, only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus is required to stop. Oncoming traffic may proceed with caution.
He asks motorists to think about making an adjustment.
“Everybody is used to the summer and not seeing buses, not seeing those school zones flashing with those 20 mph speed limits, and not seeing kids out in the crosswalks. Kids can even be distracted too and not look and cross the roads.”
According to OSHP statistics, there have been 7,179 traffic crashes involving school buses on Ohio’s roadways since 2021, six of which were fatal.
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