What to do in Ohio when you see a school bus stop

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — As back-to-school dates approach, morning and afternoon traffic will see an uptick in yellow school buses. Here’s what drivers need to know.

Per Ohio law, school buses should be equipped with lights and stop signs that are extended when a bus stops. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop if they see a moving school bus flash its lights or indicate it will stop soon.

On roads with fewer than four lanes, if a school bus stops, so should you. According to Ohio law, vehicles must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of a school bus. The rule applies to both directions of traffic as long as a street if there are three lanes of traffic or fewer. For four lanes or more, opposite traffic can continue moving, but traffic going the same direction as the school bus needs to stop.

Although lights and signs are a good indicator and are typically used by bus drivers, Ohioans on the road should be vigilant anytime they see a school bus. If a bus driver fails to deploy its stop sign or flash its lights when it should, drivers are still liable if they do not stop.

Drivers must remain stopped until they know for certain children are safely off the street and school bus lights stop flashing. Although many states allow drivers to resume their routes once the lights are turned off, Ohio law says drivers can’t go until the school bus does or they are signaled ahead by the bus driver.

From 2018 to August 2023, Ohio State Highway Patrol said they issued over 16,000 citations for passing a stopped school bus or other school zone violations.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, anyone who violates this law can receive a fine of up to $500. Offenders can also risk having their license suspended for up to one year, and two points assessed to it as well. Anyone issued a citation cannot enter a guilty plea to waive a trial and must appear in person in court to answer the charge.

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