Kids Are Back In School: What To Know About Illinois School Bus, School Zone Safety Laws

SPRINGFIELD – Schools are set to open for another academic year across the state, with districts already in session in some Illinois counties. The Illinois State Police are reminding motorists about school zone speed zones and sharing the road safely with school buses.

Every year, nearly 500,000 school buses take about 25 million elementary through high school students to and from school, traveling about 5.7 million miles in a single school year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

School bus-related crashes killed 128 people nationwide in 2023, up 23 percent compared to the 104 deaths in 2022, according to the National Safety Council.

In fact, the NHTSA says school buses are the safest mode of transportation for young children, with less than 1 percent of all traffic fatalities involve children on school transportation vehicles. The most dangerous part of the school bus ride is outside the bus.

Most children injured in the area around the bus, often called the “danger zone,” are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop arm. That was tragically illustrated in 2018, when three Indiana siblings were struck and killed by a woman who failed to stop.

Illegal school bus passing poses a significant threat to children and others on the road. In every state, it is illegal for motorists to pass a school bus while the stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. So far, 25 states have adopted stop arm camera laws, including Illinois.

When seeing a school bus slowing down or stopping, it’s not just the bus that motorists need to have their eyes on — but the surrounding area too. Children wait at least several feet away from a bus and often cross the street when they’re boarding or getting off the bus.

Knowing stop arm laws, and following them, can save the lives of dozens of children killed every year in America getting on or off the school bus, transportation safety officials say, including:

• Motorists approaching a stopped school bus with its visual signals activated, lights and extended stop sign, must stop their vehicle at least 20 feet before reaching the school bus.
• When a school bus stops on a two-lane roadway and uses its visual signals, vehicles in both directions must stop until the school bus turns off its visual signals.
• On one-way roadways, regardless of the number of lanes of traffic, all traffic must come to a stop when the school bus’s lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended.
• When the school bus stops on a four or more-lane roadway with at least two lanes of traffic traveling in the opposite direction, only those traveling in the same direction as the school bus must stop.

State law also requires school buses to stop for railroad crossings. If approaching a stopped school bus at a railroad crossing from the opposite direction, motorists may proceed past with caution. If approaching from the rear, in the same direction as the bus, and are within 100 feet from the railroad crossing, the law prohibits driving over the center line to pass the bus.

School zones have serious laws, too. The speed limit for all school zones is 20 miles per hour from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days. Motorists cannot pass another car in a school zone. Pedestrians also have the right of way in school zones, cross walks, etc.

• Be on the lookout for school zone signals and ALWAYS obey the speed limits.
• When entering a school zone, be sure to slow down and obey all traffic laws.
• ALWAYS stop for school buses that are loading or unloading children.
• Watch out for school crossing guards and obey their signals.
• Be aware of and watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, and in school parking lots.
• NEVER pass other vehicles while driving in a school zone.
• NEVER text while driving in a school zone.
• Avoid using a cell phone, unless it is completely hands-free, while driving in a school zone.

Drivers who receive tickets for these offenses MUST appear in court. If convicted, motorists face fines of $300 for first-time offenses; and $1,000 for repeat offenders. Also, the Illinois Secretary of State may suspend your license for up to three months, which means you will probably have to hire an attorney.

For additional information concerning the safe interaction with school buses in traffic, visit the ISP website Traffic Safety Brochures page, where you can find the School Bus Safety Brochure.

Related:

• 3-Year-Old Boy Hit, Killed By School Bus In Suburb
• Family Of 7-Year-Old Boy Hit, Killed By Bus Sues Driver, Bus Co., School District