School bus safety is a priority year round for school bus drivers across our state. There will be a bigger emphasis on it next week.
Alabama Department of Education and State Troopers have named October 22nd through 26th "School Bus Safety Week."
The Alabama Department of Public Safety is partnering with the Alabama State Department of Education to remind motorists of the law and what is required in an effort to prevent crashes, injuries and fatalities.
Most motorists are aware that the law that requires all traffic from both directions on a two-lane roadway to stop when school buses stop for passengers, but there are other rules to ensure safety.
Traffic from both directions must also stop for school buses on:
- Roadways with two lanes and a center turning lane
- Roadways with four or more lanes and a center turning lane
- Roadways with four lanes and no median separation
The rule differs for traffic on roadways with four or more lanes that have a median separation. On those highways, only traffic following a school bus must stop. Traffic traveling in the opposite direction should continue moving.
In 2011, there were 546 crashes, 268 injuries and five fatalities involving school buses in Alabama.
