What to do when you are behind a stopped school bus
Try not to drive in the busses blind spot
Final word
What to do when you are behind a stopped school bus
Driving safely and paying attention when you are driving near a school bus is not just important to avoid a collision with the bus itself but also to avoid possibly colliding with a child that just exited the bus. If the bus is stopped, you must remain completely stopped behind the bus until the flashing lights cease and the stop sign on the side of the bus is retracted. Even after that, drive very slowly and pay extremely close attention to the next few hundred feet, because the children that just got off the bus could be crossing the street without warning.
Beyond the moral and ethical ramifications of driving around a stopped school bus, there are strict laws and penalties for doing so as well. In Alaska, if you are caught driving around a school bus that is stopped and dropping off children you will face:
- A two thousand dollar fine
- Six points on your license
- Three months in jail
Six points on your license will certainly raise your insurance rates as well as put you only 6 more points in the same twelve-month period away from a one-year suspension.
Try not to drive in the busses blind spot
As you might imagine, school bus drivers have a very difficult time seeing cars to either side of them. This is why they have such large side-view mirrors. However, it is still quite easy for them to not see someone who is driving in their blind spot. So, if you are in a school busses’ blind spot in traffic either pull ahead of the bus, even-with the front of the bus or completely behind it. This way, the driver will be able to easily see you in case they have to change lanes, pull over or turn.
Final word
Driving in any way other than safely and focused in the vicinity of a school bus is egregiously hazardous. If you drive around a school bus that is stopped and dropping children off then you risk colliding with a child and/or stiff legal penalties. Always remain stopped thirty feet behind a stopped school bus until its lights stop flashing and it retracts its stop sign. If you need any type of car, motorcycle or even a specialty vehicle shipped anywhere to or from Alaska, give the automotive logistics experts at Alaska Car Transport a call today at (907) 331-3100!
