What Drivers Need to Know About Sharing the Road with School Buses

ZANESVILLE, OH – With the back-to-school season just around the corner, drivers will soon notice an increase in the number of yellow school buses on the road during morning and afternoon commutes.

With students returning to the classroom, it’s important to be mindful of school bus safety to keep everyone safe. Patrol Sgt. Jeff Jirles, from The Zanesville Post of the State Highway Patrol, is reminding drivers of the importance of stopping for school buses, and how it’s not just a courtesy, but it’s also the law.

“If you’re on a two-lane road and you’re approaching a bus and the bus has the red overheads on, you’re required to stop. There is some confusion on four-lane highways. If you’re on a four-lane highway, only the traffic behind the bus needs to stop. Opposing traffic does not need to stop. If you think about it this way, bus drivers are not going to have students crossing a four-lane highway. That’s the easiest way to remember,” Jirles said.

Last year saw a worrying increase in motorists disregarding school bus stop signs, with 40 drivers cited for passing a stopped school bus during student pick-up or drop-off in Muskingum County. This marks a nearly 25 percent rise from the previous year.

“Technology has improved on many of these buses. Most have three or four cameras on them that monitor the children on the bus. They are also monitoring what’s going on outside of the bus. Many of these violations, if you pass a stopped school bus, it may be recorded and is often times recorded. I think that may contribute to why we’re having more of those violations, we’re getting better at capturing them,” Jirles said.

In addition to the responsibility of motorists, the safety of school buses themselves is a top priority. Before the school year begins, every bus in the area undergoes an inspection for safety and equipment.