5 Things You Didn't Know About School Bus Safety

Police chief Stephan Wilder is informing the public on school bus safety as North Canton City School and St. Paul students return to class this week. 

To avoid costly fines and lengthy license suspensions, Wilder has the following tips and information regarding school bus traffic laws:

• When a school bus driver is preparing to stop the bus, he or she activates four amber lights – two on the front and two on the rear of the bus. These lights continue to flash until the bus is fully stopped. Other vehicles are not required to stop during this preliminary stage of the eight-light warning but should prepare to stop as soon as the bus comes to a full stop. When the bus comes to a complete stop, the amber lights stop flashing and four red lights – two in the front and two in the back – start flashing while the children enter or leave the bus. In addition, a stop arm with flashing red lights is automatically extended beneath the window on the left side of the bus.

• If a bus is stopped on a street or road which has fewer than 4 lanes, all traffic proceeding in either direction must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus.

• You must not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by the school bus driver to proceed.

• If a bus is stopped on a street or road which has 4 or more lanes, only traffic proceeding in the same direction as the bus must stop.

• Penalties for not obeying school bus traffic laws could result in a $500 fine and a one-year suspension of your license.