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CONTACT: Meghan
Frick, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 463-4246
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September
6, 2017 –
As the new school year continues, the Georgia Department of Education and
State School Superintendent Richard Woods are urging motorists to use caution
when approaching a school bus and to brush up on the law regarding passing a
bus.
According to Georgia law, vehicles traveling in BOTH directions must stop when
a school bus activates its stop-arm on a two-lane road or a multi-lane road
with no median or barrier. Vehicles traveling in the same direction as a school
bus must always stop, but motorists traveling in the opposite direction can
proceed (with caution) when there is an unpaved median or concrete barrier
separating the opposing lanes.
"I
urge all Georgians to pay close attention to school buses and brush up on the
law regarding passing stopped buses," Superintendent Woods said.
"Nothing is more important than the safety of our children, and following
this law may very well mean saving a life. I ask for your participation in
making sure our students can travel safely to school."
A warning that a bus stop is about to take place will always be given with the
flashing amber lights on the front and rear of the school bus. Upon seeing
these flashing amber lights, vehicles approaching the school bus from both the
front and rear should immediately slow down and prepare to stop. All drivers
must pay special attention to children, be focused, and exercise caution when
in the vicinity of a school bus stop, as student riders can sometimes be
unpredictable. Once the bus is fully stopped, the flashing red lights will
activate and the stop arm will deploy. Vehicles must stop and should remain
stopped until all loading students are aboard in the morning or all unloading
passengers have cleared 12 feet off the roadway in the afternoon. Motorists
should proceed with caution only after passengers have cleared the roadway, the
stop arm is canceled and the flashing red lights are deactivated.
More resources:
Diagram
Tips
for motorists
Georgia
Department of Education school bus safety information
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
