MARYLAND — When Maryland schools open Aug. 28 or Sept. 5, drivers may be a bit rusty about what to do when they encounter a stopped school bus.

Every year, more than 25 million elementary through high school students get to and from school on buses, which travel about 5.7 billion miles in a single school year, according to the American School Bus Council.

When they ride the bus, they’re about 70 times more likely to arrive at school alive than those students who get to school by other means, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

There are dangers, though — notably when children get on and off the bus. When children are injured or killed, it usually happens when the school bus is stopped, the lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, according to safety experts.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require drivers to come to a complete stop any time they encounter a bus with its lights flashing and stop arm extended.

Maryland law requires drivers from any direction to stop when a school bus is stopped along a roadway, picking up or letting off passengers, with the stop arm and signal lights activated, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. Drivers should not proceed until the bus is back in motion.

Violation of these laws will result in a $250 fine if caught on camera, and up to $570 and a three-point penalty on a driver’s license if stopped by a police officer.

Drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with the stop arm extended and the red lights flashing, Maryland State Police said. Do not pass the bus from any direction until the stop signals are off and the bus is moving again. Drivers in Maryland are not required to stop if the road is separated by a physical median – such as dirt, grass, or a barrier.

Millions of children ride school buses and are most at risk when they get on or off the bus. There were 1,009 fatal school-transportation-related crashes from 2011 to 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Despite laws, transportation officials estimate that about 42 million times every year, motorists pull around the legally stopped school buses, risking the lives of children as they get on and off. An average of six students a year died while attempting to board or get off their school buses from 2012 to 2021, according to the most recent National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey.

The report from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services didn’t discuss injuries and near misses, but safety experts say those numbers are much higher than the count of children who are killed.

While all states require a complete stop when the stop arm is extended, there are nuances. Most require other motorists to stop regardless of their direction, unless there’s a median separating lanes of traffic. And about half of states allow local governments or school districts to use cameras to capture images and issue tickets for drivers illegally passing stopped school buses.

In a single day in 2017, more than 104,000 school bus drivers observed nearly 78,000 instances in which motorists illegally passed stopped school buses, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At that rate, the tally for the entire school year would be around 14 million violations.

Another National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report found that from 2006-2015, 102 pedestrians under 18 were killed in school-transportation-related crashes.

Increasingly in recent years, state legislatures have adopted policies to improve bus safety. Along with the camera push, a requirement for seat belt use on school buses are keystone policies.

NHTSA data also shows that an average of six student passengers die a year in school bus crashes. The agency recommended in 2018 that states adopt legislation requiring passenger lap and shoulder belts on all new large school bus purchases.

AAA Mid-Atlantic reminds drivers and all road users to get back in the mindset of seeing school kids in neighborhoods and buses on the roads, with a focus on safety. This time of year is particularly dangerous due to the combination of young inexperienced drivers, school buses, and student pedestrians and bicyclists, all sharing the road.

Plus, schools across the region resume class on different dates, so drivers may encounter different situations as they drive through multiple counties or states.

“Drivers may be out of practice when it comes to the rules of the road, with school buses hitting the streets and students walking and biking to school,” said Ragina C. Ali, spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Maryland and Washington, D.C. “While traffic patterns may change, the responsibility for keeping students safe does not. It’s important that all drivers, as well as students, remain alert and follow basic precautions for a safe return back to school.”

AAA offers these tips as the new school year begins:

Drop-Off/Pick-Up Safety Tips

• Follow school drop-off and pick-up procedures, and be mindful that these may have changed.
• Don’t double park. It blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
• Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school.
• Have children exit the vehicle on the “curb side” every time (so they aren’t opening the car door into an oncoming traffic lane or crossing around the front/back of car to get to curb)
• Slow down, eliminate distractions, and watch for children.

School Bus Safety Tips

• Always Stop for School Buses – Flashing yellow lights on a school bus indicate it is preparing to stop to load or unload children and motorists should slow down and prepare to stop. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on and off. Drivers are required to stop their vehicles and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again. It’s the law and can result in a hefty fine if you don’t.
• Keep Track of Time – Be aware of the time of day you’re on the road and how that coincides with the school day. More school-age pedestrians are killed from 7 to 8 a.m. and from 3 to 4 p.m. than any other hours of the day.

• Slow Down – Whether in a school zone or residential neighborhood, drivers should keep their speed low and be prepared to stop quickly for increased vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
• Come to a complete stop – Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
• Eliminate distractions – Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Children can be quick, crossing the road unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between two parked cars. Reduce risk by not using your cell phone while driving.
• Obey Traffic Signs and Signals – Unfortunately, many motorists violate stop signs in school zones and residential neighborhoods, with many failing to come to a complete stop, rolling through a stop sign or not slowing down at all. Motorists are also running red stoplights, putting pedestrians and other motorists at risk.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

• Cross only at corners so drivers can see you. Never cross between parked cars or mid-block.
• Use a crosswalk when it’s available. Don’t assume that because you can see the driver, the driver can see you. Always use caution when crossing.
• Look all ways before crossing. Look and listen for cars, pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Once you have confirmed traffic has stopped, cross when the light indicates it is safe to cross without further hesitation so you have time to cross safely.
• Use the crosswalk push-button signal when possible, and cross when the signal allows.
• Watch for cars that are turning left or right when you are crossing.
• Walk on a sidewalk when it is provided. If you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic, on the left side of the road and as far to the left as possible.
• Make it easy for drivers to see you – dress in light colors, wear reflective material or use a flashlight.
• Remove headphones and don’t use cell phones or electronic devices when crossing the street.
• Watch for white lights on the rear of vehicles, signaling backing up in driveways or parking lots.
• Avoid walking alone. Walk with a friend.

AAA Bicycle Safety Tips