Things You'll Need:
- Car
- Bus
- Basic driving skills
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Step 1
As a School Bus driver nothing is more spine chilling than to have a car disobey your stop sign while loading or unloading children. You see bright yellow lights flashing ahead. When do you stop? Where do you stop? I'll explain some basic tips to help answer these questions.
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Step 2
When do you stop? Obviously for the red light. But how long between amber and red? Depending on traffic a bus driver will activate the amber lights a minimum of 300 feet before the stop. So think, that's 100 yards on football field or the average width of three suburban lots. If you're within that distance, prepare to stop!
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Step 3
But I'm late for work you reason. My largest stop is 12 children. From the time I activate my amber lights, stop to load and resume my pre-stop speed 30 seconds have passed. Yes, 30 seconds! When they get to where they are safe on the bus the red goes off. You're free to go and you lost 30 seconds on the way to work. Which is more important?
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Step 4
Where do you stop? Good question. Ten feet from the bus? Twenty, thirty? Most state laws stress no closer than 10 feet. Not nose to nose, not nose to stop sign. If you really want to help a bus driver relax stop no closer than 30 feet. This gives us a sense of security.
Follow these tips and you may save a child's life or avoid the fines below if you live in Alabama.
Comments
chrisanimelo444 said
on 10/31/2009 Very informative! Great tips.