It's Back-To-School Time: Stay Alert
It's back-to-school time in the Commonwealth. Local law enforcement officials are urging drivers to be alert for loading and unloading school buses. Kentucky law requires that if any school or church bus used in the transportation of children is stopped upon a highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, with the stop arm and signal lights activated, the operator of a vehicle approaching from any direction shall bring his vehicle to a stop and shall not proceed until the bus has completed receiving or discharging passengers and has been put in motion. The stop requirement provided for in this section shall not apply to vehicles approaching a stopped bus from the opposite direction upon a highway of four (4) or more lanes. Passing a loading/unloading school/church bus is a B misdemeanor for the first offense and an A misdemeanor for the second offense. Any person who violates this law will be subject to being cited or arrested.
Another concern is speeding in school zones. Be aware of the school zones in your area and remember to adjust your speed. Effective July 13, 2004, the fines have been doubled for speeding in a school zone where the speed limit has been lowered and flashing lights have been both installed and are flashing at the time.
