School Bus Safety 101: A Back-to-School Lesson for Adults

This week, students from and local private schools will head back to class.

That means it’s not just time for kids to hit the books. It’s also time for drivers to be watchful for students not just as they walk to school, but also as they ride the bus.

The issued an alert Friday urging residents to use caution when driving around school zones. Motorists are to be especially aware of children crossing streets and waiting at school bus stops, the alert said.

Illinois law provides for hefty penalties for drivers who disregard the rules when it comes to sharing the roads (and school parking lots) with buses.

Here are some things to keep in mind this fall, courtesy of the Illinois State Board of Education:

• If the red lights on a bus are flashing or the stop arm is extended, stop! That means kids may be getting on or off the bus. Drivers who pass a stopped school bus can face a $150 fine for the first offense. Subsequent convictions will get you fines of $500, but that’s not all. State law mandates that drivers who violate this law receive a three-month license suspension for a first conviction and one year for a second offense within five years.

• When a bus is traveling on a two-lane road and stops to pick up or drop off students, the vehicles in BOTH lanes must stop. Cars should stop at least 20 feet before reaching the bus to allow students to cross the road safely.

• On a four-lane road with at least two lanes traveling in the opposite direction of the bus, only drivers heading in the same direction must stop.

• If a bus is traveling on a one-way street, all cars must stop, regardless of the number of lanes of traffic.

• Illinois law requires all school buses to stop at railway crossings, regardless of whether there are students on board. Other vehicles should not try to cross the tracks behind the school bus until the bus has cleared the tracks and there is room for the vehicle behind the bus on the other side. If the school bus must make a stop after crossing the tracks, a vehicle following the bus may be trapped on the tracks until the bus moves or the traffic light changes.

Other back-to-school safety rules

Another rule drivers need to remember as kids head back to school is that talking on your cell phone in a school zone is also a no-no. Since January 2010, the state has banned drivers from using cell phones while in a school speed zone unless they're using a hands-free device or it's an emergency.

You can also face penalties if you’re a little too lead-footed in a school zone. The fine for driving over 20 mph while kids are present is a minimum $150.