Summer is coming to an end for students across the state, which means that Minnesota school buses will start making about 10,000 trips each day. Although a school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the road for students, we all need to work together to ensure that everyone makes it home safely.

Stop for school buses: It's the law!

• State law requires all vehicles to stop for school buses when the bus driver activates the flashing lights and has the stop arm fully extended.
• Drivers who violate the law face a $500 fine.
• Drivers can face criminal charges for passing a school bus on the right, passing when a child is outside the bus, or injuring or killing a child. 

Motorists:

• On undivided roads, motorists traveling both directions must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights and an extended stop arm.
• Traffic traveling the opposite direction on a divided roadway with a separating median such as a cement wall or boulevard is not required to stop.
• Motorists should slow down, pay attention and anticipate school children and buses, especially in neighborhoods and school zones.

Students:

• When getting off a bus, look to be sure no cars are passing on the shoulder.
• Wait for the bus driver to signal that it’s safe to cross.
• When crossing the street to get on the bus or to go home, make eye contact with motorists before proceeding.

You can do your part by knowing the School Bus Stop-Arm Safety law. And students can do their part by keeping themselves safe outside and inside the school bus. Working together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.