“Do I Have to Stop for that School Bus?”
In Indiana late July and early August brings hot weather, the State
Fair and also the start of a new school year. Every school year the Indiana
State Police receives numerous complaints about school bus stop arm violations
from school corporations around the state.
The Indiana
Department of Education surveys school corporations annually for stop arm
violations on one given day, and reports those numbers to the National
Association of State Directors for Pupil Transportation Services
(NASDPTS).
There are just over 16,000 school buses on the road
in Indiana, and according to the yearly statistics, as the number of school
buses on the road has increased, so has the number of school bus stop arm
violations.
The Indiana State Police would like to remind
motorists of the Indiana law concerning school buses, flashing lights and stop
arms. Remember, when approaching a school bus,
from any direction, which is stopped with its flashing red lights activated and
its stop arm extended, motorists are required to STOP, even on multiple
lane highways.
- Motorists who are on a
highway that is divided by a barrier or unimproved median (i.e. a concrete
or cable barrier, or a grass median) are required to stop only if they are
traveling the same direction as the school bus. If there is no
unimproved median or barrier, then all lanes in all directions must stop.
When approaching a school bus always be prepared to
stop and watch for stopped traffic. Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a serious
violation and one that school bus drivers are quick to report. Violation of this law is a Class “A”
infraction and is punishable by a maximum fine of up to $10,000.
The
Indiana State Police is committed to the safety of our children, motorists and
highways, and will continue our enforcement and education efforts to ensure
that safety. To learn more about national stop arm violation statistics you may
access the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation
Services web site at http://www.nasdpts.org/StopArm/index.html
To contact the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle
Enforcement Division with questions about stop arm violations you may click on
the link https://secure.in.gov/ISP/BusInspections/Public/Index
then click on email ISP.
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