DOTHAN, AL (WDNews) As school buses start to travel through neighborhoods once more, drivers in Alabama are being reminded that stopping for a school bus is required by law in certain situations and is not merely polite.
If there isn’t a physical median between the lanes, Alabama’s traffic safety regulations require all cars to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off pupils. This comprises:
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Roads with two lanes
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Roads with four lanes but no median
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roads with a turning lane in the middle
Roads with two lanes
Roads with four lanes but no median
roads with a turning lane in the middle
In these cases, a school bus flashing red lights and extending its stop arm requires both directions of traffic to stop.
However, only cars following the school bus must stop on split highways with a median or other physical barrier. Drivers in the opposing lanes may proceed to drive cautiously.
Law enforcement officers emphasize that not stopping could endanger a child’s life in addition to resulting in hefty fines.
It is advised that drivers observe all school bus signals, slow down in school zones, and keep an eye out for children crossing the street unexpectedly.
Check out the Alabama Department of Public Safety’s website for a detailed explanation of the regulations and illustrations.
