Protecting Students: School Bus Safety Guidelines In West Michigan

It's hard to believe, but school is officially back in session for many students across West Michigan. While the kids are excited to see their friends and learn new things, this is also a time for adult West Michiganders to learn a thing or two - especially about sharing the road with school buses.

The Kent County Sheriff's Department recently shared a handy graphic showing what cars should do when encountering a stopped school bus on a Michigan roadway. You may think that you know the rules and laws, but it can be tricky - so let's break it down.

What to Do When You Approach a Stopped School Bus in Michigan

It's important to pay attention to the lights. Are you behind a bus that has lights blinking red? As a driver, you should stop a minimum of 20 feet behind the bus. Are the lights blinking yellow? You should begin slowing down and be prepared to stop.

What if a bus is stopped with flashing red lights and you are on a two-lane road? In this case, drivers in both directions need to stop. This is to ensure the safety of the children getting off of the bus - just because they're being dropped off on the north side of the road, that doesn't mean that their home isn't on the south side of the street.

If you're on a multi-lane street and you see a bus stopped with its lights flashing red - the same applies.

The ONLY time that a driver doesn't have to stop when a bus is stopped with its red lights flashing is if they are on a divided highway. In this case, the vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop at least 20 feet behind it. However, if a driver is on the other side of the highway (and there is a median or barrier), they do not need to stop, but it's recommended that they proceed with caution and keep an eye out for students.

And these aren't just suggestions or best practices - if you pass a stopped school bus, you could be charged with a civil infraction and have to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,000 and may be required to do 100 hours of community service at a school. If you injure or kill someone when passing a stopped bus - the charges are more severe and the fines are much higher.

And don't think that you can sneakily pass a bus because there are no police officers around - many busses are now equipped with stop-arm cameras that record any and all vehicles that pass them when stopped. Those videos can then be used by law enforcement to issue a citation.