When driving on roads or highways, drivers should be sure to maintain at least 3 car lengths behind any school buses, and at highway speeds this distance should be increased. When a school bus comes to a stop, drivers should stop their vehicles no closer than 10 to 20 feet.
When can you drive behind a school bus?
When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and its stop arm extended, you must stop your vehicle at least 20 feet from the bus. Oncoming traffic and motorists approaching the bus from behind may not move until the stop arm is retracted and the red lights are no longer flashing.
How many feet around a school bus is considered the danger zone?
Most school bus-related accidents occur within a 10-foot radius around the bus, where the driver has limited visibility. This area is called the “danger zone.” It extends to 30 feet in front of the bus.
How do you drive around a school bus?
When driving on a road without a median, drivers from both directions must stop. If you are following the bus, stop at least 20 metres away. If approaching from the front, stop at a safe distance to let children cross the road. Don’t move until the lights stop flashing and the bus moves forward.
What is the appropriate following distance when following another bus outside of the city?
The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance. Determining the three-second gap is relatively easy.
What is the three second rule?
Simply leave 3 seconds worth of room between you and the vehicle you are following. Just watch the vehicle in front of you pass a road sign or other inanimate object on the side of the road and count out “One Massachusetts, Two Massachusetts, Three Massachusetts” before your vehicle passes that same object.
Why do school buses increase driving risk?
Passengers within the bus are exposed to the following dangers: Lack of restraints. Many transit buses are not required to have seat belts or restraints for their passengers, increasing the risk of injury during an accident.
What is the danger zone for bus?
The “Danger Zone” is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver (ten feet in front of the bus where the driver may be too high to see a child, ten feet on either side of the bus where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot, and the area behind the school …
What is the danger zone around the school bus?
Safety Tips Danger Zones: The DANGER ZONE is the area immediately surrounding the school bus. It extends 10 feet in front and behind the bus, and 10 feet from the sides. The area of greatest danger is immediately in front of the front bumper and right wheel.
How far is the blind spot behind the bus?
A school bus has blind spots immediately below the side flat mirrors, immediately in front of the side flat mirrors, and directly behind the rear bumper. Rear blind spots typically extend 50 to 150 feet behind a bus but can sometimes extend up to 400 feet, depending on the length of the vehicle.
Can you overtake a bus?
Only ever overtake the bus if you have enough room to move back over into lane and not so that you remain alongside the bus. It’s not generally necessary to indicate to the right when waiting behind a bus as it’s usually clear to other road users that you are waiting for the bus to move off or overtake it.
Why is it important to stop for a school bus?
Stop Means Stop!
If a school bus is at a full stop with stop signs out and lights blaring, it means to STOP! This is the most crucial point in school bus safety, as kids are exiting and entering the bus, and they may not be aware of other vehicles on the road.
How much is a ticket for passing a school bus in California?
California Vehicle Code (CVC) § 22454
A School Bus Violation ticket will cost you $490 and Up in fines plus $1,000+ in insurance hikes and penalties.
How many car lengths is a safe distance?
The rule of thumb is to maintain at least a three-second following distance, giving you time to react and avoid potentially dangerous situations. You can calculate this by using a fixed object, such as a pole or an overpass to determine how far in front of you the car is.
Is recommended to keep a following distance of?
It is recommended that you use a minimum 4-second following distance. Keep a minimum two second-distance when following another vehicle.
How many car lengths is 2 seconds?
Assuming 60 mph which is 88 feet per second, 2 seconds is 176 feet. Assuming average US cars, like mid-sized sedans, 176 feet divided by 14.7 is 12 car lengths. Other sources suggest 15–16 feet is more like it. So really 10–12 car lengths.