Avoiding an accident with a school bus

Each day, parents send their children off to school on a school bus, trusting that their children will arrive at their destination safely. There are some helpful tips for drivers to know so they can avoid an accident with a school bus on New York roads.

It’s important for drivers to understand that school buses make frequent stops to pick up and drop off students. Children and parents may be waiting at a school bus stop so drivers will want to come to a complete stop at least 20 feet from the bus.

Children sometimes walk in front of or behind a school bus, not understanding that it could be dangerous to do so. Drivers should also watch for children around playgrounds, parks and other areas where children gather.

Bus lights

When the bus has its yellow flashing lights on, this means the bus is about to stop to load or unload children. Drivers must be prepared to stop.

When the red lights are flashing, the bus has stopped and drivers must stop as well until the school bus resumes driving or until the bus driver signals that it is okay to proceed. Even if a driver is signaled to move ahead, the driver must still drive slowly.

New York school buses are equipped with stop-arm cameras and drivers can face penalties for violating safe driving rules.

Serious crashes can occur when a driver attempts to pass a bus because the driver doesn’t want to wait for the bus to move.

School bus accidents can cause children to suffer injuries. An experienced attorney can review the situation and provide advice to ensure that any parties responsible for the accident are held accountable.