A note from our Director of Safety and Compliance:
The 2016/2017 school year is here…are you ready?
Our young people are going back to school - with that brings a lot of challenges when it comes to traveling our roads. Not only during the week, but also Friday nights and the weekend with football starting. School buses, parents running late, young inexperienced drivers, bicycles, kids walking…etc. Is all part of this challenge we will face. If you live near a College orUniversity you have an even bigger challenge with these students being in a big hurry and not paying attention.
Please make sure you’re aware of your surroundings. This means a 360 degree view of what’s going on around you at all times. Keep your eyes moving looking far enough down the road for hazards. When I use the term “hazard” this includes; kids standing at the curb waiting for the bus, pedestrians, bicycles, school zones, traffic…etc. The use of hands-free devices while driving and talking on your cell phone helps to keep you focused on the road - NO texting and driving! It can wait - it only takes a split second to change your life forever - or the life of an innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time forever!
School Bus Lights Are Flashing – MCL 257.682
School buses may stop frequently in your travel area. It is important to know when to stop and when to proceed with caution. Michigan Law requires when:
• Overhead red lights are flashing and bus is moving, prepare to stop.
• Overhead red lights are flashing and bus is stopped, stop no closer than 20 feet from the bus.
• Red lights are turned off; proceed when it is safe to do so.
• Overhead yellow lights are flashing, prepare to stop.
• Yellow hazard warning lights are flashing on moving or stopped bus, proceed with caution but be ready to stop if the lights turn to flashing red.
It is not necessary to stop for a school bus that has stopped on the other side of a divided highway where the road is separated by a barrier such as a concrete or grass median, island or other structure that separates the flow of traffic.
On five (5) lane roads where there is just a left turn lane, vehicles are required to stop on both sides of the road. This is not considered a divided highway or road.
Gary Dietsch
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