School Bus Safety

Sgt. Roughton wanted us to remind everyone about school bus safety, especially on highways (like Main Street Road/Hwy 43).   It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus in Missouri, unless you are on a four lane divided highway.   The following is taken from the Missouri Drivers Handbook and is on pages 44-45.

SCHOOL BUSES
When a school bus stops to load or unload school children, the driver activates the mechanical and electrical signaling devices to notify other drivers of an impending stop. Amber warning lights will flash 500 feet before the bus comes to a designated stop. When the school bus is stopped, the alternate flashing red lights and the stop signal arm are activated. Oncoming and following traffic must stop before they reach the bus when these signals are activated. You must stop:
1. On a 2-lane road where the vehicles travel in either direction.
2. On a 2-lane road that is a one-way street.​
No driver of a school bus shall take on or discharge passengers at any location upon a highway consisting of four or more lanes of traffic, whether or not divided by a median or barrier, in such a manner as to require the passengers to cross more than two lanes of traffic. The following are situations when you do not have to stop:
1. When you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a high - way divided by a median where the vehicles traveling one direction are on a totally separate road from the vehicles traveling the opposite direction;
2. When you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a highway containing four or more lanes of traffic; or
3. When a school bus is stopped in a loading zone (at a school) where students are not permitted to cross the roadway.
After stopping for a school bus that is unloading school children, watch for school children walking along the side of the road. You must remain stopped until the bus moves or the bus driver signals for you to proceed. Proceed with caution
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Our kids are the future and their safety should be our priority.   According to SaveMOLives website 6 children were killed in the US by cars ignoring the school bus safety laws - one of those was in Jasper county.

It just takes a few minutes to stop when a school bus is unloading or loading, so please STOP.