School Bus Safety Rules Every Iowa Driver Should Know

School is back, and with it comes the annual return of school buses, crowded drop-off lanes, bicycles, crosswalks, and enough traffic around schools to make you wonder if everyone in town decided to arrive at exactly the same time. The answer is always yes, by the way.

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For parents, there is a lot going on during those few minutes before and after school. You're trying to get to work, making sure the kids are ready, buses loading and unloading, and teenagers driving their younger brothers and sisters to school. Because, once a teenager gets a driver's license, the next logical step in growing up is making them responsible for getting themselves and siblings to the school on time. Sure, it's a coming-of-age moment, still a little spooky.

Then there is pickup. Cars are turning, stopping, backing up, and occasionally doing things that make you wonder if the driver has ever actually encountered a straight line before. It can get chaotic quickly, which is exactly why everyone needs to slow down and pay attention. Considering how often drivers still ignore school bus rules, a little refresher probably isn't a bad idea.

If you are traveling behind a school bus on a two- or three-lane road and you see the bus flashing its warning lights, you need to slow down and be prepared to stop. When the bus stops and the stop arm extends, stop behind it and stay at least 15 feet away. You must remain stopped until the stop arm retracts and the bus begins moving again.

If you are approaching the bus from the opposite direction on a two- or three-lane road, flashing amber lights mean you need to slow to no more than 20 mph and be prepared to stop. Once the bus stops and the stop arm is extended, you need to stop in front of the bus and remain stopped until the arm retracts.

There is one important exception. On a road with two or more lanes in each direction, drivers traveling in the opposite direction from the bus do not have to stop, even when the bus has its lights flashing and stop arm extended. That is the specific situation in which you may continue driving.

For everyone else, the rule is simple: stop. The reason for all of this should be pretty obvious, but it is worth remembering. Children getting on and off school buses are anything but predictable. They may run across the street, forget something, get distracted, or simply make a decision that makes absolutely zero sense to any adult watching from the car. And trust me, at pick up line, THAT is some prime people watching moments.

And remember, should you violate any school bus laws, it could result in serious consequences, including fines and a driver's license suspension of up to 180 days. But the biggest reason to follow the rules has nothing to do with a ticket or losing your license. It's simply about making sure the children crossing the street make it safely to school and back home.

The same goes for kids walking or riding bicycles to school. Watch the crosswalks and expect the unexpected. If your child rides a bicycle, make sure they wear a helmet every time and have some type of preferred travel route home.

And while I'm refreshing everyone's memory, let's talk about the phones. Put it down and pay attention to what is happening around you. They're essentially illegal to use in the car now anyway! That text message, notification, or social media post can wait. A child stepping into the street may not give you that extra few seconds.

School traffic is messy and it probably always will be; long lines, impatient drivers, confused teenagers, buses loading and unloading, and parents who are convinced they can somehow save three minutes by squeezing into a space that simply does not exist. So as another school year gets underway, let's all try to remember that getting through the school zone a few seconds faster is not worth the risk. Watch for kids, watch for buses, put the phone away, and give everyone a little extra patience.