School buses are just around the corner. What drivers need to know to avoid trouble.

It happens every year around the third or fourth week of August, yet it still comes as a shock.

While the days are still long and muggy, children return to school, which means, starting one morning in the next week or two, you’ll start seeing school buses on your commute.

Really. Some schools have their first day next week.

People get caught off guard when they see the yellow flashing lights of a slowing school bus after more than two months of not having to factor bus stops for school children.

“In the beginning of the school year we will see more bus violation,” said Lt. Sean Fullerton, public information officer with the Exeter Township Police Department. “They’re not used to seeing buses. We do urge people to leave a little earlier and look out for buses. Be hypervigilant and look out for kids.”

It’s not just motorists who have to get accustomed to the morning routine. There’s a whole new group of students, some of whom may be unfamiliar with a particular bus stop or any bus stop.

They may cross an intersection where there’s no crossing guard. Safety of children is paramount, Fullerton said, and everyone has a role to play.

“One mistake could be catastrophic for a family,” Fullerton said. “It’s not something we want to mess around with. We really do urge people to be mindful and leave a little extra time for their morning commute.”

Sgt. Andrew Swoyer, spokesman for the Muhlenberg Township Police Department, urged motorists to practice patience and caution when they see a yellow bus.

“This time of year every time I see a bus I’m going to be cognizant of where it’s going,” Swoyer said. “You want to be cautious before the bus even stops. Try to anticipate it stopping at the intersection and assume there’s someone around.”

It’s also a good idea to wait a couple of seconds after the red lights go out to start moving again, he said. Children can be hard to see when they’re around high-profile vehicles.

The mistake some violators make is thinking they don’t need to stop for a school bus when it’s not in their lane, Swoyer said.

Pennsylvania law requires drivers to stop in all directions if the lights of a bus are flashing red and the stop arm is raised. This applies even when motorists are facing the bus from opposite sides of an intersection; any turning movement in those situations is illegal, even though you’re not passing the bus.

September and October were the months when the most citations were issued to motorists for school zone speeding and bus-stopping violations in Pennsylvania for 2019 through 2023, according to statistics compiled by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

Berks County police departments issued a total of 249 citations for illegal passing of school buses during those years. Montgomery County police department issued 1,231 bus-passing citations during that period, second in the state to only Allegheny County, which issued 1,640 citations.

Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law:

You must stop if:

• You meet a stopped school bus with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended.

• You approach an intersection where a school bus is stopped with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended, whether you’re on the same street or the cross street.

When not to stop:

• For a bus on the opposite side of the road if there are physical barriers such as guide rails or a grass median separating sections.

Remember:

• Amber lights flashing on a school bus mean “caution.” When driving, watch for children on both sides of the road. Slow down and be prepared to stop.

• You must wait until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been withdrawn before moving.

• Do not move until all the children have reached a place of safety.

Penalties:

If you are convicted of violating Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law, you will receive all of the following penalties:

• 60-day driver’s license suspension.

• Five points on your driving record.

• $250 fine.

For more information about the school bus stopping law and safety tips for drivers, caregivers and children, visit dmv.pa.gov.

Source: Berkshire mont