Labor Day weekend is fast approaching, and while our schools normally don’t open until after
the holiday, this year is different. Drivers out on the road on the morning of Thursday,
September 3rd, will see the return of the familiar yellow buses carrying students all across town.
And even though we are all familiar with seeing school buses on the roads, many of us aren’t
completely up to date on the rules of engagement when passing them. With that in mind, now is
a great time for all of us to go “back to school” with a knowledge refresher on school bus safety
for drivers and pedestrians.
School buses carry the most precious cargo of all: our children. It should be common knowledge
for every driver to know that it is against the law to pass a stopped school bus with its red lights
on, but the number of violations issued to motorists for passing stopped school buses tells a
very different story. Rockland County implemented a school bus camera program starting in
October of 2023. In 2025, over 22,000 tickets were issued county-wide for violations involving
passing a stopped school bus. That’s 22,000 incidents when an impatient, reckless, or
distracted driver put the safety of children in jeopardy. In speaking with a large number of
residents about the issue, it is clear that many drivers do not fully understand the rules for
passing a stopped school bus.
The first thing that drivers should understand is that it is important to be present when behind
the wheel. Paying attention to your surroundings on the road is the most basic component of
safe driving. If you see a school bus, expect it to stop somewhere along its way. Flashing yellow
lights on a school bus are not an invitation to speed up to pass the bus. Rather, it is a signal to
slow down, as the bus is about to stop to pick up or drop off a student. Once the lights are
flashing red, New York State law states the following:
- When a stopped school bus flashes its red light(s), traffic that approaches from either
direction, even in front of the school and in school parking lots, must stop before it
reaches the bus. You should stop at least 20 feet away from the bus. - When you stop for a school bus, you cannot drive again until the red lights stop flashing
or when the bus driver or a traffic officer signals that you can proceed. This law applies
on all roadways in New York State. - You must stop for a school bus even if it is on the opposite side of a divided highway.
The third bullet point above is the one that trips most people up. NYS law requires drivers to
stop even when approaching a bus from the opposite direction, and even when opposing lanes
of traffic are separated by a barrier. This even applies to state roads such as Route 303 and
Route 304. This is particularly important information to know, as most school bus-related deaths
and injuries occur while children cross the street after being discharged from the bus. The minor
inconvenience of waiting a minute for a child to safely board or exit a school bus is far
outweighed by the value of that child’s life. Please remember this every time you are driving
behind or by a school bus.
Fines for violations of the law also serve as an important deterrent. If you are caught passing a
stopped school bus, expect a minimum fine of $250.
Safe and responsible driving should be a year-round practice, but our children deserve an even
greater level of awareness during the school year. Please obey speed limits and other traffic
control devices while on the roads. As always, the Clarkstown Police Department will be out in
force conducting extra enforcement at this time of year to protect our children.
I hope all our students, teachers, bus drivers, and all school staff have a wonderful start to the
school year.
