08/10/2021
Reminder: It is against the law to pass a school bus that has its lights flashing and stop sign arms extended
Since school is back in session this week, we’d like to follow-up our safety tips post with a reminder about school bus stops. In the past, we have received complaints regarding vehicles that do not stop for school buses. As such, we would like to remind everyone about the laws regarding this.
• When a bus has its stop arm and lights activated, if you meet it from any direction, you must stop. This includes at intersections.
• Do not pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. It is the law. Traffic in both directions on undivided highways must stop when students are entering or exiting a school bus (the red flashing lights and extended stop sign arms are your cue to stop). On a divided roadway, all traffic behind the school bus must stop.
• Be alert!
o The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being hit. Children walking to and from their bus are usually very comfortable with their surroundings and more likely to take risks, ignore hazards, or fail to look both ways when crossing the street.
o Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
o Take extra care to look at for children not only in school zones, but also in residential areas, parks, and playgrounds
Indiana State law states:
IC 9-21-12-1 Arm signal device extended; duty; penalty; license suspension; presumption
Sec. 1. (a) A person who drives a vehicle that:
(1) meets or overtakes from any direction a school bus stopped on a roadway or a private road and is not stopped before reaching the school bus when the arm signal device specified in IC 9-21-12-13 is in the device's extended position; or
(2) proceeds before the arm signal device is no longer extended;
commits a Class A infraction.
(b) In addition to any other penalty imposed under this section, the court may suspend the person's driving privileges:
(1) for ninety (90) days; or
(2) if the person has committed at least one (1) previous offense under this section or IC 9-21-8-52(b), for one (1) year.
(c) This section is applicable only if the school bus is in substantial compliance with the markings required by the state school bus committee.
(d) There is a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the vehicle involved in the violation of this section committed the violation. This presumption does not apply to the owner of a vehicle involved in the violation of this section if the owner routinely engages in the business of renting the vehicle for periods of thirty (30) days or less.
IC 9-21-12-3
Divided highways; vehicles approaching school bus; duty to use caution
Sec. 3. On a highway divided into two (2) or more roadways by:
(1) leaving an intervening space that is unimproved and not intended for vehicular travel;
(2) a physical barrier; or
(3) a dividing section constructed to impede vehicular traffic; and
if the school bus is on the opposite side of the traffic barrier, the person who drives an approaching vehicle need not stop and may proceed with due caution for the safety of children boarding or leaving the school bus.
To view the full law, please visit http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2021/ic/titles/009/ #9-21-12
