Learning the Laws About Driving Near School Buses

Manalapan students get back behind their schools desks this week for a new year, which means those yellow buses will flood the roadways carrying precious cargo.

Take our small refresher course to keep our kids safe:

• It is very important to pay attention and follow all traffic rules when driving around school buses. All school buses have flashing lights and a stop arm to alert you when to stop.
• Yellow lights will begin to flash to warn drivers that a bus is approaching a stop. This is your signal to slow down and prepare to stop.
• If you are approaching a school bus from either direction with flashing red lights, you must stop at least 25 feet away from the bus. If you are driving on the opposite side of the road with a median in the middle, you must then slow down to 10 mph.
• Do not pass a bus in either direction when its stop arm is extended. However, if the bus has stopped in front of a school, you may then pass it from either direction at no more than 10 mph.

Penalties for passing a stopped school bus include fines and up to five points on a driver's license.