New York State School Bus Law Penalties, Fines Can Be Expensive

May is about to begin and across Western New York State, spring is in full bloom! The weather has been decent, for the most part and people are starting to get out and enjoy all the area has to offer!

We are only a month away from the Memorial Day weekend and then a few weeks after that-summer! But before we get to those, school is still in session and now more than ever drivers need to be alert.

There is one law that is not mentioned much but is on the books and you might have even learned it during your drivers safety course.

Kids Are Everywhere

If you have been driving around town lately, you have probably seen way more kids out walking and riding bikes. The good weather has the parks and playgrounds packed and when school lets out, it is a barrage of kids running all over.

Our kids love this type of weather and as hard as we try to tell them to pay attention, they still need reminders to look for cars and be very careful when you cross the roads.

School Bus Safety

Last week, New York State ran a statewide crackdown on people who pass school buses when the lights are on. "Operation Safe Stop" was designed to make sure that motorists are aware that they cannot go around a bus when the lights are on.

The "20 Foot" Law In New York State

The laws about buses are designed to make sure that both students on and off the bus are kept safe. When kids are getting on, or off the bus, it is typically when we are most distracted by other things we are thinking about. ON the way to work and the drive home, many of us are thinking about what the day will bring and the stress of the day we had.

When a bus is stopped with the lights on, New York laws states "Come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from the bus".

Be safe and be alert and enjoy the last few weeks of school!