School Bus Safety Laws
Launch the media gallery 1 playerAs our school year begins, please be aware of children on school buses. Kansas law KSA 8-1556 requires all motorists to stop when approaching or overtaking a stopped school bus displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Motorists are to remain stopped until the bus is no longer displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Violation of this law not only endangers children but is punishable by a fine and court costs in excess of $420.
This past year, the Kansas State Board of Education set up a School Bus Stop Arm Committee to address the alarming number of drivers who pass stopped school buses with their stop arms out. A one-day study across the State found our stopped buses getting passed illegally more than 1000 times! (And not all schools participated.) The most alarming reports were of cars passing stopped buses on the right side. The Committee came up with a number of recommendations. One is a new information campaign to inform the public about the law on passing stopped buses. I'm sure you will see information in media sources throughout the State. Another recommendation made by the committee was to change the law to allow cameras on school buses to take pictures of violators for ticketing. This process is done in other states. This recommendation will more than likely be considered in the 2020 legislative session.
Please know the laws that are established to protect children on our school buses. You can review situations and examples at the following link: School Bus Safety