It happens at the same time every day around 3 o’clock, children are getting out of school and race to get home. With the increased number of children on the road, drivers should be cautious and aware of any laws put in place to keep children safe. One of the simplest and most important laws is the one detailing when to stop for a school bus.
In South Carolina, motorists are required by law to stop for a school bus when traveling on any highway with two lanes, one going each direction. The bus will begin to flash yellow lights to alert drivers before coming to a complete stop. The only exception is when a motorist and a school bus are traveling on a multi-lane highway. If the motorist is approaching the school bus from behind, they must stop until the bus is done loading or unloading children and has resumed driving. However, on a highway of four or more lanes, if the motorist is approaching the school bus head on they are not required to stop but are urged to proceed with caution.
Failure to comply with these laws will result in a minimum of $500 in fines and 6 points added to your license. More importantly, failing to use caution around school buses unnecessarily endangers the lives of our children.
For more information regarding school bus safety, check out our article 10 Tips for Staying Out of the School Bus ‘Danger Zone’.
If your child has been injured in an accident, please don’t hesitate to call our Charleston personal injury lawyers today at 1-888-690-0211.
