School Bus Safety Stressed as New Academic Year Begins

Stay alert, and look out for one another…

That’s the message being delivered to motorists and pedestrians with a new school year getting under way – if not already, very soon.

“The start of the new school year is right around the corner, and our roads will look a lot different in the mornings and afternoons,” MDOT Secretary James Ports, Jr. said. “With more vehicles, school buses and children on our roads and sidewalks, we all need to do our part to make sure students get to and from school safely. That means following the rules of the road, staying alert and avoiding distractions.” 

The Maryland Department of Transportation stressed that it is against the law to pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and the stop sign-arm extended, if there is no median on the roadway.

Distractions are also a factor in many accidents.

Students and pedestrians should also use sidewalks and marked crosswalks whenever possible, and be extra alert for traffic coming from all directions.

Tips for motorists:

• Always stop for pedestrians. 
• Obey traffic signs, signals and markings. 
• Observe posted speed limits. Speeding makes it more difficult to stop for pedestrians. 
• Look before backing out of a driveway or parking space. 
• Keep your eyes on the road. It’s illegal to use a handheld phone/devise or text while driving. 
• Remember that when a school bus stops, the flashing red lights go on and the stop sign arm is extended, drivers in BOTH directions are required by Maryland law to stop if there is not a median. 

“Distracted driving continues to contribute to thousands of injuries and more than one-third of Maryland’s motor vehicle fatalities every year,” MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative, said. “These crashes are preventable. We need all road users, including motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists, to look out for one another, eliminate distractions and slow down so we can all get to our destination safely.” 

“We must always be on the lookout for pedestrians, bicyclists and others so please put down our phones and other distractions,” MDOT SHA Administrator Tim Smith added. “As our children return to school, motorists should allow more time in the morning to get to work, and drive slow in school zones and residential areas.”   

Tips for students and pedestrians:

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks whenever possible. 
• Press the pedestrian signal button and wait for the walk signal. 
• Always stop at the curb and looking left, right and left again before crossing a street. 
• Watch for cars turning in or leaving driveways. 
• Be sure to walk – not run – when crossing the street. 
• Stand away from traffic and the street when waiting for the school bus; wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and the students to enter the bus.