State Patrol reminds drivers to stop for school buses

With the start of another school year, drivers must be extremely cautious when approaching school buses and obey laws designed to protect students — especially young children who are hard to see and may dart into traffic unexpectedly while going to or from the bus.

According to Wisconsin law, when approaching a school bus from the front or rear, drivers must stop at least 20 feet from the bus when it is stopped and displaying high-mounted flashing red warning lights. Drivers may not proceed until after the bus resumes its route or turns off the flashing red warning lights.

The stop arm on a bus is an added warning to drivers. But the lack of an extended stop arm is not a reason to pass a stopped bus with flashing high-mounted red warning lights. Drivers also may not pass a stopped school bus in order to make a right turn in front of it.

Drivers on the other side of a divided roadway separated by a median or other physical barrier are not required to stop for a school bus. However, motorists should always watch for children in the vicinity of a school bus.

Besides law enforcement officers, school bus drivers are authorized to report any violations involving illegal passing or turning in front of their buses. The owner of the vehicle, who might not be the offending driver, will then be responsible for paying the citation.

A citation for failure of a vehicle to stop for a school bus costs $326.50 with four demerit points. A citation for an illegal right turn in front of a stopped school bus costs $326.50 and three demerit points. If reported by a school bus driver, the vehicle owner’s liability for the illegal passing of a bus costs $326.50 with no demerit points.