School's Open - Watch for Buses

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
September 1, 2008

School is open, and it's time to start paying close attention when approaching or following a school bus. Do you know the law?

Pick up a current copy of the Illinois Rules of the Road at the Woodstock (Ill.) DMV. If a DMV is not convenient to you, try a local police department, sheriff's department or a trooper with the Illinois State Police (before you see the red/blue lights in your rearview mirror will be best).

Or check out the full Illinois statute at 625 ILCS 5/11‑1414 Approaching, overtaking, and passing school bus.

Go to http://www.illinois.gov/
Click on State Link for "Government" (left side)
Click on Services & Information for "Illinois Compiled Statutes"
Scroll down to Transportation and click on "CHAPTER 625 VEHICLES"
Click on 625 ILCS 5/ Illinois Vehicle Code
Scroll down to, and click on, Chapter 11, Article XIV Miscellaneous Laws
Scroll down to Sec. 11-1414 and read it all.

When you see one school bus, let that be the triggering mechanism to watch for all school buses.

And if you think you know the law in Illinois, but you are heading into another state, read this:

"A few places, such as Pennsylvania and maybe Arkansas and Virginia, require traffic approaching from any direction to stop, maybe even from the left or right. Traffic in some places must stop for a school bus loading or unloading even if the red lights do not flash. Some places require traffic to remain stopped until the school bus resumes motion AND the red lights stop flashing, or until signalled by the school bus driver, the police, or other authorized traffic directors to move on. A few places have unusual laws upon traffic facing flashing yellow (amber) lights that mostly require traffic to use caution and prepare to stop." (Source: http://www.geocities.com/jusjih/schoolbusstop.html)

If you thought you were confused before, how do you feel now?