First day of school year calls for safe driving
Today, August 2, marks the first day of the 2023-24 school year, and WNEG News would like to remind area residents to drive safely, watch for students on their way to and from school, obey traffic laws in school zones, and follow proper protocol when encountering a school bus on the road.
WNEG News spoke with Toccoa Chief of Police Jimmy Mize yesterday and he said that officers would be out in the school zones starting this morning to help facilitate a smooth and safe first day of the school year.
He asked local residents to remember to always watch for school buses that are stopping to pick up or drop off students along their route, and stressed that it is the law that all drivers must stop when a school bus has stopped and extended the stop sign on the bus.
He specifically mentioned that vehicles on both sides of Big A Road must stop when a school bus on either side of the road stops and extends the bus’ stop sign flag.
As of February 13, 2019, the Georgia State Legislature passed legislation that put in place stricter regulations about stopping for school buses.
Senate Bill 215 removed the stipulation in the law that allowed drivers to pass a stopped school bus if they had a painted turn lane between their vehicle and the bus.The updated law ensured that drivers must stop for a school bus, even on multi-lane roads.
Under current Georgia law, drivers must stop for a school bus whenever the bus driver signals a stop with the flashing lights and the stop sign.
According to SB215, “The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with separate roadways that are separated by a grass median, unpaved area, or physical barrier need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus which is on the separate roadway, or upon a controlled access highway when the school bus is stopped in a loading zone which is a part of or adjacent to such highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.”
In all other circumstances, drivers must stop for school buses, including the following scenarios:
Two-lane Roads – ALL traffic traveling in ALL LANES must stop when a school bus stops for children.
Two-lane Roads with a Center Turning Lane – ALL traffic traveling in ALL LANES must stop when the school bus stops for children, including vehicles in the turning lane.
Four-lane Roads Without a Median Separation – ALL traffic traveling in ALL LANES must stop when the school bus stops for children.
Roadway of Four or More Lanes with a Center Turning Lane – ALL traffic traveling in ALL LANES must stop when a school bus stops for children, including vehicles in the turning lane.
Divided Highway of Four or More Lanes with a Median Separation – When there is a median separating the lanes of traffic, only vehicles traveling in the same direction of the school bus must stop when the school bus stops for children.
Mize asked local residents to observe all school zones, and to slow down, and especially be aware of new drivers that may be driving to and from school.
Mize recommended bypassing school zones if possible.
He also asked that parents stress to students to always look, and always pay attention when crossing a roadway, or walking alongside a roadway.