Why You Should Never Drive Past a Stopped School Bus in Georgia

School is back in session across Georgia, which means school buses full of kids are driving – and stopping – on the state’s roads. And when a school bus stops, you better stop as well. If you fail to do so, you are not only putting lives at risk, you are risking being slapped with a hefty fine.

When a Georgia school bus stops and flashes its signals, all traffic in both directions must come to a halt under state law. Drivers in both directions must stop for school buses that are loading and unloading (lights flashing and stop arm extended), unless the road is divided by a median. If there is a median, the vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of the bus do not need to stop.

If you get caught violating the law, you could be fined $300 for your first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense during a five-year period. You will also accumulate six points on your driving record for each violation. For drivers under the age of 21, passing a stopped school bus will result in a six-month suspension of your driver’s license.

In addition to stopping as required by law, follow these important school bus safety tips as you share the road with our Georgia students this year, courtesy of the Georgia Department of Transportation:

• Drive Slowly. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
• Watch for children playing and gathering near school bus stops.
• Be Alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
• Learn and Obey the school bus laws in Georgia.
• Understand the flashing light system that school bus drivers use to alert motorist about stopping.
• Yellow Flashing Lights mean the bus is preparing to stop and load or unload children. Motorists need to slow down and prepare to stop.
• Red Flashing Lights and Extended Stop Arm means the bus has stopped and children are boarding or exiting the bus. Motorists much come to a complete stop a safe distance from the bus and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the arm is retracted, and the bus begins moving before they start driving again.

At The Parian Law Firm in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we represent injury victims exclusively and are committed to getting justice and compensation for our clients. Please contact us at (770) 727-5550 or chat live online with a member of our staff today.