School buses are back; be aware of dangers

It’s been well over a year since school buses routinely traversed Canyon Lake streets. With schools opened back up, school buses are back. The dangers of children boarding and exiting the buses are also back.

Across the nation, 19 school-aged children on average are killed getting on or off the school bus each year, according to a report by Stanford Children’s Health. That statistic can be drastically reduced when both children riding the bus and drivers of vehicles approaching stopped buses obey laws and are more careful.

According to California law and Canyon Lake POA rules, drivers in both directions must stop when a school bus stops in front of them with red lights flashing, including when it extends its stop sign.

Some school buses flash yellow lights when preparing to stop to let children off the bus. The yellow flashing lights warn drivers to slow down and prepare to stop. When the bus flashes red lights, the driver must stop from either direction until the lights stop flashing.

Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again. Bus drivers are required to illuminate the flashing red lights every time they stop to let students off of the bus, even when the students are not going to cross the street.

The law requires drivers to remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing (CVC 22454). Drivers who fail to stop may be fined up to $1,000 and their driving privilege could be suspended for one year. Canyon Lake POA Rules and Regulations also require driver’s to stop for school bus signals. The POA can impose a $100 fine to drivers who fail to do so.

In addition to being monitored by police and security patrol, bus drivers can make reports up to 24 hours after drivers pass their school buses illegally.

Not only do motorists need to be extra cautious around school buses, the children using the buses should also be alert and careful.

Students who are getting off the bus at their stop must be extra attentive to exit the bus and walk away from it as quickly as possible. Parents are encouraged to instruct their children what to do if they drop papers or books when exiting a school bus. Children should walk away from the bus and get the driver’s attention and should never go under the bus to retrieve items.

California’s procedure for crossing students at bus stops is vastly different and safer than the procedure of any other state in the nation. When a student needs to cross the road and the stop is designated as a “red light crossing,”the driver escorts the students across the street.

The students are to follow all of the directions of the driver, and not cross the road until the driver verbally tells the students to proceed. Obviously, the crossing of the street is the most dangerous aspect of getting to and from school and students must be aware, alert and follow all directions of the driver.