My youngest went to Kindergarten this week. It was magical thing to see him get on that big yellow Roanoke City School bus for the very first time.
As my wife and I headed to work, we both encountered more traffic and more driving hazards than usual. A quick reminder that when school is in session, drivers should be even more cautious.
A few reminders to protect our children from the National Safety Council:
1) All 50 states have a law making it illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
2) School buses use yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that they are preparing to stop to load or unload children. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm signals to motorists that the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off the bus.
3) All 50 states require that traffic in both directions stop on undivided roadways when students are entering or exiting a school bus.
4) While state laws vary on what is required on a divided roadway, in all cases, traffic behind the school bus (traveling in the same direction) must stop.
5)The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being hit. Stop your car far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary space to safely enter and exit the bus.
6)Be alert. Children are unpredictable. Children walking to or from their bus are usually very comfortable with their surroundings. This makes them more likely to take risks, ignore hazards or fail to look both ways when crossing the street.
7) Never pass a school bus on the right. It is illegal and could have tragic consequences.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident, call Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm today. We can answer your questions about your potential injury claim. You will talk to a Roanoke car accident lawyer during your FREE case evaluation.
Call us if you want to get help today. We proudly serve clients in Salem, Bedford, Roanoke, Richmond, Fairfax, Northern Virginia, Winchester, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Smith Mountain Lake, Pulaski, Blacksburg, Abingdon, Danville, Martinsville, Wise, and all localities in Virginia and West Virginia. (877) 471-3353
