Long Island School Bus Safety

When school starts on Long Island, motorists can expect to see school buses every morning and afternoon. School buses carry young children to and from school. So, there are laws motorists should abide by when buses are on the road. Motorists should be informed that not abiding by the traffic laws concerning school buses can mean significant penalties. It also puts you in a position to seriously injure an innocent child.

Mind the Lights

In the state of New York, it is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped and either picking up or dropping off children. This applies to traffic going in all directions. Always follow the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

When the bus stops, red lights will generally flash and some buses have a stop sign that temporarily extends out into traffic. Any attempt to pass the bus or ignore these signs is a serious violation of New York State traffic laws.

Watch After the Bus Pulls Away

Long Island bus drivers generally wait until all children have crossed the road before turning off their red lights and begin moving forward. But bus drivers, like any other vehicle drivers, are blind in spots on their mirrors and it is possible they could miss a child who was lagging behind. Always be on the lookout for pedestrians on the roadway.

Breaking the Law

If you ignore the traffic laws on Long Island as they apply to buses, you will have to face a series of stiff penalties, ranging from monetary fines to jail time.

If you would like more information on school bus safety or need professional representation for a driving violation associated with school buses, give our bus accident attorneys, serving Long Island, a call.