INDIANA, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 10 is reminding motorists, parents, and students of the importance of bus and pedestrian safety as the new school year begins.
August is National Back to School Safety Month and motorists, parents, and students all play an important role in keeping children safe.
For motorists:
- Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law mandates motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended to stop at least 10 feet from the bus.
- If you are following or traveling alongside a school bus, you must stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
- Motorists approaching a stopped school bus from any direction are required to stop.
- If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping. If there is no physical barrier, you must stop.
- Motorists should be alert for students darting into the street from between parked cars or improperly crossing the street while walking or riding their bikes to school.
- Another area requiring motorists’ full attention are school zones. You are required to slow down to the posted speed limit of 15 miles per hour in school zones. The speed limit applies during all normal hours when students arrive at or leave school.
For parents and students:
- Arrive to the school bus stop five minutes early so you won't have to run across the road to catch the bus.
- When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. Stand away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus.
- Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
- Never push when getting on or off the school bus.
- Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.
- Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road.
- Never cross the street behind the school bus.
- If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. The driver may not see you and begin moving the bus.
For additional safety tips for school bus drivers, parents, and students visit https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/school-bus-drivers/school-bus-safety.
Subscribe to PennDOT news in in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, and Jefferson counties at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/regional-offices/district-10 .
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MEDIA CONTACT: Tina Gibbs, chgibbs@pa.gov or at 724-357-2829