School Bus: Flashing Lights and Stop Arms

School Bus Safety Reminder for All Drivers

By S.R.O. Justin Groth

As the school year gets ready to start we all are getting out and driving more, we are going to be meeting numerous school buses in town, on county roads, and highways.  With the added time on the roads, our responsibilities behind the wheel greatly increase. During this time of year, I receive numerous calls of motorists not stopping for school buses with their red lights flashing and the stop arm out. As responsible motorists, we should all watch for the red flashing lights on the front and rear of the bus, in addition to the stop arm on the driver side of the school bus.  Each school bus is equipped with red flashing lights to the front and rear of the vehicle. 

When the stop arm is activated, those red lights will be flashing.  At the point the lights begin flashing, it is a violation of Kansas Law KSA 8-1556 to overtake the school bus from either direction.  The driver should stop in the road and wait for the bus to either resume motion or until the red lights quit flashing and stop arm is no longer out.

On many traffic stops of this nature, I have had motorists advise me that they didn't see the stop arm on the bus. The solution to this problem is simple. Watch for the two flashing red lights on the front and rear of the bus. These stop lamps will be mounted as high and widely spaced as possible depending on the manufacturer of the bus.

The second most common response I get on these stops is, "The lights came on, I was already beside the bus, so I kept going."  The solution to this problem is to stop when the lights come on.  The stop arm is not a traffic light. There is no "floor it through yellow" concept with school buses.

Following these suggestions will help keep our most precious cargo safe coming from and going to school.