If you’re not sure what the rules are for passing a stopped school bus, now would be a very good time to find out.
Local law enforcement is working with the transportation department of Alachua County Public Schools to raise awareness of the problem of vehicles illegally passing school buses that have stopped to pick up or drop off students. That effort, dubbed ‘Operation Bluebird,’ will run from October 19th through the 23rd and will include stepped-up patrols at problem areas throughout the county.
A study by the Center for Urban Transportation Research found that every day there are about 180 incidents in Alachua County of vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses. Local school and law enforcement officials say the problem is particularly acute along stretches of road with raised medians with gaps, which can confuse drivers.
“When in doubt, stop!” said Sheriff Sadie Darnell. “It only tales a few seconds, ensures the safety of our children, and reminds others to do the same."
“We find that people tend to do what the people ahead of them are doing,” said Harrell Harrison, the school district’s director of transportation. “If one driver stops, other people are more likely to stop as well, and that’s much safer for everyone.”
The official rule is spelled out in Florida Statute 316.172, which states that when approaching a stopped school bus that has displayed a stop signal, a driver must stop and wait for the bus to withdraw the signals before moving ahead. If there is a divided highway with an unpaved space of at least five feet, a raised median or a physical barrier, a motorist who is traveling in the opposite direction is not required to stop. However, if there is a gap in a median or barrier, the driver does need to stop.
The penalty for violating the law is pretty steep. Passing a stopped bus carries a $194 fine. That fine goes up to $294 for motorists who pass a bus on the right side where passengers are being picked up or dropped off. It’s also a criminal infraction that requires a court appearance.
“The safety of students is our top priority, but we can’t do it alone,” said Harrison. “Motorists sharing the roads with our buses need to be aware and be prepared to stop when the buses stop.”