From the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office
Every school day, Kansas students depend on school buses to get them safely to and from school. While school buses are very safe, the most dangerous part of the trip is often when children are getting on or off the bus. That is why Kansas has laws that require drivers to stop when a school bus is loading or unloading students.
Kansas law says drivers must stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and its stop arm extended. Drivers coming from either direction must stop and stay stopped until the bus starts moving again or the lights and stop arm are turned off.
On most two-lane and four-lane roads, traffic in both directions must stop. The main exception is on a divided highway with a physical median barrier. In that case, drivers traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop.
Failing to stop for a school bus is dangerous and can lead to costly penalties. More importantly, it can put children's lives at risk. Many students must cross the street after getting off the bus, and they may be difficult for drivers to see.
Illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be a serious problem. Transportation safety officials estimate that drivers illegally pass stopped school buses more than 43 million times during a typical school year. Every one of those violations creates a chance for a child to be seriously hurt or killed.
Recent national data shows that these tragedies still happen. During the 2023-24 school year, six students were killed in school bus loading or unloading areas. Three of those deaths involved drivers who illegally passed a stopped school bus.
Three Safety Tips for Drivers
1. Watch for yellow flashing lights.
Yellow lights mean the bus is getting ready to stop. Slow down and prepare to stop safely.
2. Stop when the red lights flash.
When the stop arm is out and the red lights are flashing, stop and stay stopped. Do not move until the bus begins driving again or the warning signals are turned off.
3. Stay alert and avoid distractions.
A new law in Kansas requires drivers to be hands free when going through school zones. Put down your phone and pay attention around school bus stops. Children can move quickly and may be hard to see.
Stopping for a school bus takes only a few seconds, but those few seconds can save a child's life. By following Kansas law and staying alert, drivers can help make the trip to and from school safer for every student.