A recent video shared on local Falcon community Facebook pages shows a driver speeding past a D 49 school bus that was stopped with its warning lights and stop sign activated. Comments about the video indicate that this dangerous ñ- and illegal ñ- behavior happens more than people might think.According to the Colorado Drivers Handbook, drivers are required to stop their vehicles at least 20 feet before reaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing, whether it is on the driverís side of the road, the opposite side of the road or at an intersection the driver is approaching. Colorado law (CRS 42-4-1903) also requires drivers to stop for school buses loading or unloading passengers, even if those vehicles are not required to be equipped with visual warning devices.Drivers must remain stopped until the flashing red lights are no longer operating. Drivers are not required to stop if the school bus is in the opposite travel lanes of a roadway that is separated by a median or other physical barrier.Violating school bus traffic laws is considered a Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor offense. Drivers can be fined up to $300 and/or face jail time in addition to losing points on a driver’s license. A second offense within a five-year period can result in a fine up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment.The Drive Smart Colorado website offers additional safety tips when driving in neighborhoods with school zones:
- Watch for children traveling to or from school. Children can be unpredictable in their actions, so drivers must anticipate and prepare to react to what they may do.
- Drive slowly and watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
- Watch for children playing and gathering near school bus stops.
