DPS Checks On School Bus Safety

EAST TEXAS — Don’t be surprised this week if you pass a stopped school bus, operating a visual signal, and are stopped by a state trooper. Texas Department of Safety troopers will be watching for drivers who violate the law on this, National School Bus Safety Week. It runs October 17th through the 21st. They will look for violators in a variety of ways. State Trooper Jean Dark says they may be following a school bus, driving ahead of it or they may even be riding on the bus. Dark says a driver who disregards a stopped school bus is putting kid’s lives in danger. And she says, that is cause for concern. Drivers who violate the law could face fines as much as $1,250.

According to Texas statute, a driver – traveling in either direction – must stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped and operating a visual signal. The driver may not proceed until one of the following occurs: the school bus resumes motion; the operator is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or the visual signal is no longer activated.

If a road is divided only by a left-turning lane, drivers on both sides of the roadway must stop for school buses with alternating red flashing lights activated. However, if the lanes are separated by an intervening space or physical barrier, only motorists going in the same direction as the bus are required to stop.

In 2015 and year to date in 2016, Texas Highway Patrol troopers have issued 1,093 tickets for passing a stopped school bus. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, failure to stop for a school bus was a contributing factor in 45 traffic crashes on Texas roadways last year.