Passing stopped school buses loading and unloading children puts their lives at risk

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each school day, millions of children ride school buses. School buses are also one of the safest vehicles on the road. Less than 1% of all traffic fatalities involve children on school transportation vehicles. However, children are more at risk when approaching or leaving a school bus. Floyd Whiting has more. 

In Wyoming, the law requires the driver of a vehicle –upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any stopped school bus– must stop before reaching the school bus when the bus’s flashing red lights and Stop-Arm are in operation. The driver must not proceed until the stopped bus resumes travel and the flashing red lights and Stop-Arm are no longer in operation.

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Sheridan County Commission Chair Christi Haswell said traffic will increase as the school year begins.

County Commissioner Lonnie Wright added that residents should leave the house to begin their commute ten minutes earlier once the school year begins in the City of Sheridan on Aug. 29. 

Motorists of Sheridan County must stop in both directions of travel when a school bus begins to flash its red lights and deploys the Stop-Arm. Motorists cannot continue to travel until the lights are off, the Stop-Arm retracted and the bus continues movement. 

The penalty for the driver who passes a school bus with the red lights flashing and Stop-Arm extended is $435.