Key School Bus Safety Tips For Montana Drivers

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - As school starts, the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) is reminding Montanans to be mindful of school bus laws to help ensure students get to and from school safely.

“As the school year begins, we want to remind everyone who is sharing our roads to do so in a safe manner,” said MHP Colonel Kurt Sager. “By obeying traffic laws and signals while in school zones, and allowing extra time in the morning, and during pick up, you can help ensure everyone makes it to and from school safely."

According to MHP, from 2023-2024, there were a total of 144 school bus violations, 80 citations, and 29 warnings issued to those who failed to obey school bus traffic laws.

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Sager says to keep these traffic laws in mind when approaching a school bus:

Prepare to slow down when you see the amber/yellow flashing lights. Stop 30 feet from a stopped school bus when it is flashing red lights.
When a school bus is stopped at a four-way intersection, vehicles can’t turn left, turn right, or pass the school bus.
When the stop arm is out on a school bus and there is a raised median, all traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop.
When the stop arm is out on a school bus on a non-divided highway or two-lane road, traffic traveling in all directions must stop within 30 feet of the bus.

MHP also reminds Montanans to slow down and pay attention to the changing speed limits in school zones, look for children crossing the street near schools, and not to pass a school bus that is stopped.

Reckless driving penalties for drivers who pass, in either direction, a stopped school bus that is displaying the visual flashing red signal is a $285 fine for a first offense and a $785 fine for a second offense.