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September law of the month

Vehicles must stop for school buses displaying flashing lights

School buses are some of the safest vehicles on the road today. To ensure their continued safe operation, each school bus in Wisconsin is inspected every year by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Although school buses have a commendable safety record for transporting passengers, tragedy can strike when students rush to get on or off their bus and unexpectedly dart into traffic. Because young children may be hard to see until its too late, motorists must be extremely cautious when driving near school buses and obey laws designed to protect bus riders.

According to Wisconsin law, when approaching a school bus from the front or rear, drivers must stop at least 20 feet from the bus when it is stopped and displaying flashing red lights. Drivers may not proceed until after the bus resumes its route or turns off the flashing red warning lights. Drivers also may not pass a stopped school bus in order to make a right turn. Drivers on the other side of a divided highway from a bus with flashing red lights are not required to stop.

"Officers from the State Patrol and other agencies stringently enforce laws requiring motorists to stop for school buses with flashing red lights," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "Besides law enforcement officers, school bus drivers legally may report any violations involving passing or turning in front of their buses. The owner of the vehicle, who might not be the offending driver, will then be responsible for paying the citation."

A citation for failure of a vehicle to stop for a school bus costs $312 and four demerit points. A citation for an illegal right turn in front of a stopped school bus costs $312 and three demerit points. If reported by a school bus driver, the vehicle owner's liability for the illegal passing of a bus will cost $312 with no demerit points.

"Violations of school bus safety laws are serious and expensive for a very good reason. Drivers must always be aware that children might not be paying attention and don't see oncoming vehicles when they get on or off a bus." says Superintendent Collins. "As we start another school year, drivers need to remember to stop when they approach a bus with flashing red lights."

Previous "Laws of the Month"

Questions about the content of this page:
Steve L. Olson, steven.olson@dot.state.wi.us 
Last modified: September, 2008