Share the road with school buses

Nationwide, approximately 25 million students start and end their day with a trip on a school bus. Because school buses are designed for safety, with flashing lights, giant mirrors, stop-sign arms, and that bright yellow color, students are far more likely to get to school safely on a school bus than traveling by car.
The most dangerous time for children riding school buses is getting on and off the bus. Two-thirds of school bus-related fatalities involving children occur when they are approaching or leaving the school bus. According to research conducted by the National Safety Council, most children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and are hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus.
Remember: It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
• Traffic must stop and never pass a bus from the front or the back on an undivided road or street if the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended while loading or unloading children.
• If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance.
• The area 10 feet around the school bus is the most dangerous. Stop far enough away to allow space for children to safely enter and exit the bus.
• Be alert. Children can be unpredictable. They tend to either not recognize hazards or ignore them.
Do your part to keep children safe.