Respecting School Bus Safety

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Back to school time has arrived and so has the need for motorists to acknowledge school bus safety.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Zanesville Post Commander Lieutenant Kristi Mistovich advised motorists to plan for extended commute times and also provided a few tips to keep in mind when dealing with school bus traffic.

“As we go into the new school year, I can say the Ohio State Highway Patrol is dedicated to traffic safety,” Mistovich said. “As the commuter morning traffic and after school hour traffic obviously has changed with the motorists, we ask them to just be patient. Be patient when you see a school bus, just slow down, look for their flashing lights, for their signage, look for kids loading or unloading, give plenty of distance on any roadway when you’re around a school bus.”

Mistovich reminded drivers that they cannot pass a school bus when it is stopped and has its red flashing lights on. And to be on the lookout for children in school zones, who may unexpectedly dart into the roadway.   

“Since 2020, there’s been actually over 6,000 crashes that have involved a school bus, just in this state alone. That number speaks volumes but the Ohio State Patrol are dedicated during this school year to work with our local partners at the schools in the community and just in staying active in our school zones during those peak times and drop off hours as well as following school bus routes along the routes during the day and in the evening drop off,” Mistovich said.

For a refresher on school bus and school zone safety tips and traffic laws, you can visit the state patrol’s website.

• When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, all vehicles traveling in both directions must come to a complete stop at least 10 feet from the bus. This applies to two-lane roads and roads with a center turning lane.
• On roads with four or more lanes, or divided highways, only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus is required to stop. Oncoming traffic may proceed with caution.
• Motorists must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the bus driver signals that it is safe to proceed.