SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (KTIV) – Sioux Center Police say school bus ban violations are taken very seriously and appropriate tickets will be issued at the beginning of the school year.
According to police, the school bus will flash yellow lights before stopping. This serves as a signal to slow down and prepare to stop, not a signal to speed up.
If you fail to stop, you will face a fine of at least $350, a driver’s education course, or a suspension of your license and a very large car insurance renewal fee, according to the Sioux Center Police Department.
According to the Iowa DOT, violating school bus driving laws can result in a driver’s license suspension of up to 180 days.
Here are a few scenarios for safe driving when sharing the road with a school bus:
Scenario 1: You are driving on a two- or three-lane road
- Approaching the bus from behind:
- If you see flashing red or yellow lights, be prepared to stop. Do not overtake the bus.
- When the bus stops and the stop bar is extended, stop behind the bus.
- Keep a safe distance from the rear of the bus. Remain standing until the stopper is retracted and the bus starts moving again.
- Encounter with the bus from the front:
- When the yellow warning lights start flashing, reduce speed and be prepared to stop.
- When the bus stops and the stopper is extended, stop in front of the school bus. Remain standing until the stopper is retracted.
Scenario 2: You are driving on a road with two or more lanes in each direction
- When approaching the bus from behind, the same rules apply as on a two- or three-lane road:
- If you see flashing red or yellow lights, be prepared to stop. Do not overtake the bus.
- When the bus stops and the stop bar is extended, stop behind the bus.
- Keep a safe distance from the rear of the bus. Remain standing until the stopper is retracted and the bus starts moving again.
- Encounter with the bus from the front:
- If you encounter a bus in one (or more) of the two opposite lanes, you do not have to stop, even if the bus has stopped with its lights flashing and its brake arm extended.
- The bus must not pick up or drop off children who need to cross this type of road unless official traffic control devices or police forces are present.
- This is the only time you are allowed to overtake a school bus that has stopped and extended the brake lever.
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