Thousands of Minnesota students are back in classrooms, and the Office of Traffic Safety is reminding motorists to pay close attention around school buses and bus stops.
Mike Hanson with the Office of Traffic Safety says drivers need to be aware that school buses will once again be common on area roads.
“We really need to (Be conscious of and aware of school buses; they’re going to be all over the place again, and drivers need to really pay attention to what they’re doing around those buses)”
Motorists are required to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying red flashing lights or an extended stop arm. Drivers who illegally pass a school bus can face a gross misdemeanor, a $500 fine and other penalties.
Hanson says school bus-related fatalities are relatively rare, but even one is too many.
“That’s a good thing, and we want to keep it that way, but even one of them is too many”
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, slow down in school zones and always stop when a school bus has its stop arm extended.
