The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is reminding drivers of their responsibility to stop for school buses displaying red flashing lights. The results of illegally passing stopped school buses are potentially devastating for children and drivers.
Police agencies continue to receive reports of motorists failing to stop for school buses from bus drivers and other citizens each school year. With about 6,000 school buses operating in Oregon, motorists need to be alert.
Oregon law requires motorists to stop whenever the red lights on a school bus are flashing regardless of the direction you are traveling. The law applies to any roadway with two or more lanes of traffic, including multi-lane highways such as Highway 101.
The only exception to the law is for divided highways with two roads separated by an unpaved median strip or barrier, such as in the Lincoln and Gleneden Beach areas. In that case, only drivers on the same side of the road as the bus must stop. A painted median strip or a center lane used only for left turns does not create two separate lanes. Where that situation exists, all lanes of traffic must stop.
When a bus is flashing amber lights, motorists should prepare to stop. When the red lights begin to flash, that means that motorists traveling in both directions must stop before reaching the bus and must remain stopped until the red lights are turned off. The same rules apply to church or worker buses equipped with amber and red flashing lights.
Drivers risk being reported to law enforcement by the bus driver or someone else. Local law enforcement may investigate and take legal action against people who pass school buses illegally.
Please do your part to make this a safe school year for our children.
Previous:Holiday Fatality Statistics