School buses are back: Know when to stop
from Listen to the Story Hosted by Bethel School District
School buses are heading back out on the roads, which means it is time for a quick refresher on when to stop for those red flashing lights! Washington state law (RCW 46.61.370) outlines when drivers must stop for school buses. On a two-lane road, drivers traveling in both directions must stop when the bus’s flashing red lights or retractable stop sign are activated. On roads with three or more marked lanes, drivers traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop. The same exception applies to highways divided into separate roadways. However, drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus must always stop. Drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus face a mandatory $500 fine that cannot be waived, reduced, or suspended. The Washington state Department of Licensing's Driver Guide reminds drivers to continue watching for children along the roadway even after a bus's red lights stop flashing and its stop sign is retracted. Always keep an eye out for yellow buses, slow down in school zones, and remember: when in doubt about whether to stop, play it safe and bring your vehicle to a full stop! Our bus drivers work hard to get our students to and from school safely each day. Let's help them out by staying alert and driving with caution!
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