State Police: School Buses Are Back on the Road. Look Out!

The Maryland State Police media office has issued an advisory that school buses will soon be back on the road (Monday). They would like to remind drivers of the rules of the road. According to MSP spokesman Sgt. Marc Black, Sr., Troopers will be partnering with local law enforcement in special “school bus enforcement  patrols” during the start of the school year.

Across America, 23 million students ride a school bus each day. According to U.S. Department of Transportation statistics, it is one of the safest modes of travel.

The trouble comes when motorists near the buses don’t follow the rules of the road.

Black said that extra patrols will be deployed on school bus routes. Troopers will be on the lookout for motorists driving unsafely around school buses or ignoring the red flashing lights when a bus is stopped.

The extra patrols are funded by special state grant through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

As a refresher—

On two-lane roads, you must come to a stop in both directions when school bus lights are flashing. Trouble spots include:

• MD214/Central Avenue in Davidsonville and Edgewater
• MD268/Muddy Creek Road in Edgewater, West River, Churchton and Shady Side
• MD2/Solomons Island Road from Edgewater to Dunkirk

Never pass a school bus on the right. The consequences could be tragic if students are loading or unloading. You must stop 20 feet in front or behind a school bus when the bus lights are flashing. Be courteous though, give children enough space and time to safely get on and off the bus.

Are you being a good example to your little ones?

Be alert and slow down. Look for students standing along roadsides from 6:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. for morning arrival and walking home from 1:50 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for afternoon dismissal. Students may be preoccupied or not paying attention, so drivers have the responsibility of not running them over.

Initially walk the route to school or the bus stop with young students. Whether your child walks to school or to the bus stop, it is important for them to be made aware of what dangers or hazards lurk, and where they should be especially cautious. It might be a good time to talk about different safety scenarios too.

Reduce your distractions. Put the phone down. Don’t check your messages, or Facebook, or Twitter or other digital media while you are driving—whether school is in session or not.