School Bus Safety

With most schools back in session in Berrien County, The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind drivers about some school bus laws. Sheriff Heit asks that all drivers stay alert while driving during this school year.

Refrain from distractions such as texting, using a cell phone, eating, or grooming while driving and/or waiting for a stopped school bus – pay attention to your surroundings to ensure that there are no children in or near the road where you will be driving. Keep our children safe!!!

What do yellow flashing lights on a school bus mean?

• The Michigan school bus traffic laws do not specifically address this, but we recommend that you prepare to stop when you see a school bus’s overhead yellow lights flashing.
• Additionally, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office recommends proceeding with caution when the yellow hazard warning lights are flashing.

No passing when red lights flashing

• The Michigan school bus traffic laws prohibit drivers from passing a school bus that has “stopped” and is “displaying 2 alternately flashing red lights located at the same level.” (MCL 257.682(1))
• This applies to drivers who are: (1) traveling in the same direction as the school bus and (2) traveling in the opposite direction or in the oncoming traffic.
• When a school bus is stopped and has its red lights flashing, the laws require drivers to bring their vehicles to “a full stop not less than 20 feet from the school bus.” (MCL 257.682(1))
• Drivers must remain stopped and “shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer actuated.” (MCL 257.682(1))

Penalties for passing a stopped school bus

• Drivers who fail to stop for and/or who pass a school bus that is stopped and has its red lights flashing is responsible for a “civil infraction” under the Michigan school bus traffic laws and are subject to a fine between $100 and $500 as well as court costs. (MCL 257.682(1); 257.907(2) (l) and (4))
• The fine is doubled for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus if it occurs in a school zone, which is anywhere within 1,000 feet of a school property line. (MCL 257.601b (1) and (5)(d); 257.627a(1)(c))
• The Michigan Vehicle Code does not impose points on a driver’s license for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus.
• A driver who commits a serious moving violation within 20 feet of a stopped school bus that has its red lights flashing and who injures or kills someone may be found guilty of a crime and subject to a fine and possibly jail or prison time.
• An injury results in a misdemeanor conviction and a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 1 year in jail. (MCL 257.601b (2))
• Under Michigan school bus traffic laws, causing the death of another person results in a felony conviction which is punishable by a fine up to $7,500 and/or up to 15 years in prison. (MCL 257.601b(3))

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS

• Prepare to stop when you see a school bus’s yellow lights flashing.
• Stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
• Do not resume driving until the school bus’s red lights have stopped flashing and you are certain that no children are milling around the bus and in or near the traffic lane where you will be driving.
• SLOW DOWN in and near a school and residential areas.
• Always observe and comply with the school zone speed limit.