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HP Lieutenant pleads with motorists to stop passing stopped school buses
Published
10 months agoon
In every U.S. state motorists 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.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Lieutenant Erik Jorgensen said too many motorists are continuing to pass school buses with the Stop-Arm engaged.
Lt. E. Jorgensen
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Drivers traveling in both directions and on roads with multiple lanes should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicle.
Red flashing lights and extended Stop-Arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off the bus. Motorists must stop their car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before motorists can continue driving.
Cost of the first citation for passing a stopped school bus in Wyoming is $435.
Solomon Morris
March 12, 2024 at 1:19 pm
Instead of a fine maybe it should be an automatic suspension of the offender’s driving license. If you are not smart enough to stop for a school bus you should not be operating motorized transportation.
Fred Osborn
March 13, 2024 at 10:10 am
Agreed…there are plenty of idiots out there who should not be behind any wheel.
Ezra Petersen
March 12, 2024 at 2:48 pm
This article is downright wrong . Wyoming Statute 31-5-507 (a) states “ the driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights are no longer actuated.“ There is a huge difference between and/ or in law. It’s not ambiguous. Of the lights are off OR the bus is moving you may proceed. I had a friend who got a ticket because he started moving when the bus did. He won.