In the melee of all the personal complexity involved in the return to school, it can be easy to lose sight of what it means for drivers. Perhaps you’ve forgotten all the school zones on your route to work. Perhaps you’ve grown accustomed to pulling around slow moving or stopped traffic. Prepare yourselves, Pennsylvania drivers! School zones and school buses are back in play.
To remind drivers in northwest Pennsylvania, we offer our “Back to School” driving tips:
Pennsylvania School Bus Stop Law
* Drivers must stop 10 feet away from a school bus with its red lights flashing and cross arm extended
* The law does not only apply to drivers who are behind the bus. It also applies to drivers meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. It also applies to motorists in oncoming lanes or in adjacent lanes who are traveling alongside the bus! The only time the law does not apply is if there is a grassy median, guide rails or concrete barriers that separate the bus and oncoming traffic.
* Do not proceed until the red lights have stopped flashing AND all children have reached a place of safety.
Don’t Forget Pennsylvania School Zone Speed Limits
Remember that there will be special 15 mph speed limits in place around schools at times of the day when children are coming and going. The law requires that you obey the limits and it imposes sanctions, including a fine and three points on your license. More important, though, is the fact that the school zone area is a hub of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Excited and distracted kids (and parents) are coming and going. They’re carrying backpacks. They’re paying attention to many things other than traffic. As a driver in a Pennsylvania school zone, it’s your duty to proceed slowly and safely and to stay alert to avoid Pennsylvania school zone injuries.
Contact a Pennsylvania School Bus Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one were injured in a school bus or school zone accident in Erie, Warren, Crawford, or Venango Counties, call for a free consultation with one of our experienced Pennsylvania school zone accident attorneys. There are no strings attached to our Erie school bus crash attorney consultations and, if your injuries keep you from coming to us, we’ll come to you. Call today locally at 814-273-2010 or toll free 814-273-2010 or use the on-line inquiry form to your right. We don’t charge a fee in our Pennsylvania school zone accident injury cases unless we recover money for you!
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