This week is National School Bus Safety Week, and both local and state officials are reminding drivers to always prioritize safety when approaching a stopped school bus.
It’s illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus when the stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing — a rule designed to protect children entering or exiting the bus. Officials advise drivers to “slow on yellow and stop on red,” emphasizing that if the stop arm is extended, children are crossing ahead.
Sioux County Deputy and School Resource Officer (SRO) Jessica Dorhout describes the types of reactions officers often hear from drivers who violate the school bus law.
Dorhout serves as the SRO for MOC-Floyd Valley, Unity Christian, Ireton Christian, Orange City Christian, and West Sioux Elementary in Ireton. Dorhout believes that some of the violations may stem from drivers being distracted or simply lacking experience on the road.
Dorhout says that they continue to educate students who may be riding the buses.
In Iowa, vehicles traveling on roads with three lanes or fewer must stop in both directions when a school bus is stopped with its lights flashing and stop arm extended. On four-lane roads or larger, only the vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus are required to stop.
The Iowa DOT urges all motorists to stay alert and avoid distractions, especially in school zones or rural areas where children may be boarding buses. Violating these laws can result in fines, license suspension, and — more importantly — tragic consequences.
