School bus traffic laws are in effect for the safety of children or other passengers entering or leaving a school bus. Children often will be crossing the street at the bus stop, so these laws are extremely important for their safety. In Ohio, school bus traffic laws vary depending on the size of the road.
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Two-Lane Roads
For two-lane roads, all traffic must stop for a school bus no matter which direction it’s traveling. Traffic must stop at least 10 feet away from the school bus, whether coming from its front or rear.
Resuming Travels
In many states, traffic may resume when the school bus lights are off. In Ohio, traffic can’t commence until the bus resumes movement or until it’s waved on by the school bus driver. Other personnel who are allowed to move on traffic when a school bus is stopped include peace officers and school crossing guards.
School bus traffic laws are listed in the Ohio Revised Code, the law book for the State of Ohio. You can find traffic rules about stopping for school buses in Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.75.
Highways with Four or More Lanes
On roads with four or more lanes, only traffic moving in the same direction as the bus must stop when the school bus stops to release passengers. Traffic coming from the opposite direction doesn’t have to stop in these instances. To facilitate this law, children are dropped off on the same side of the road as their residences, so they won’t have to cross the street
Divided Highways
Divided highways are treated the same as those with four or more lanes. Oncoming traffic doesn’t have to stop regardless of how many lanes of traffic there are, but traffic moving in the same direction still has to stop. Traffic must stop no less than 10 feet away from the school bus
Waiting for a Stopped School Bus
The wait for a stopped school bus may seem to take a while in some cases. That’s because according to Ohio law, the bus driver must wait to resume its travels until all exiting passengers are a safe distance away from the bus.
School Bus Safety Requirements for Traffic
A school bus doesn’t have to be equipped with an extending stop safety sign in order for traffic to stop. When bus lights are flashing, this is sufficient to signal drivers that they need to stop, as the bus is loading or unloading passengers.The amber and red visual signals required for a school bus are listed in Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.771.
Violation of School Bus Traffic Laws
Failure to stop for a school bus adds 2 points to your license in Ohio and is punishable by fines up to $500. You must appear in court and the judge has the discretion to suspend your driver’s license for up to one year. A driver who injures a pedestrian while failing to comply with school bus safety laws can face both criminal charges and civil liability. Those liabilities can include the victim’s medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.