Back-to-school season is mostly a concern for kiddos and parents, but drivers have a part to play during the academic year, too.
As you commute to and from the office or run errands, chances are you’ll encounter a school bus full of kids.
Whether it’s picking up the neighborhood kindergarteners on the way to school or chauffeuring the local high school athletes home after an evening practice, make sure you know the rules of the road when it comes to driving near school buses in Delaware.
What are the school bus laws in Delaware?
Delaware law states that school buses must provide a warning with amber-colored lights 10 seconds prior to the red stop lights to alert drivers the school bus is preparing to stop.
Red lights on a school bus may be activated only when the bus is stopped on the roadway or shoulder.
Sergeant Tracey Duffy, public information officer for New Castle County division of Delaware State Police, stresses that drivers approaching a school bus from the front or back are not permitted to pass it. Drivers may not resume driving until the bus begins to move or the red lights are no longer activated.
The only exception to this rule is that drivers approaching a school bus from the front do not have stop on a roadway with four or more lanes.
What happens if you violate school bus laws in Delaware?
Delaware law states that drivers who violate school bus laws may be subject to the following fines or time served:
For the first offense of overtaking and passing a school bus, the offender will be fined between $115 and $230 or imprisoned between 30 and 60 days, or both fine and imprisonment.
For each subsequent offense occurring within three years from the former offense, the offender will be fined between $115 and $575 and imprisoned between 69 days and six months.
Drivers convicted of passing a school bus may have their driver’s license and/or driving privileges suspended.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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