When do you need to stop for a school bus in Ohio?

Editor’s Note: The video above is an I-Team investigation about school bus drivers.

(WJW) – Summer vacation is ending for kids and families across Ohio.

That means school zones will soon be activated, and yellow school buses will be crisscrossing neighborhoods and cities to get kids to class.

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Here are some reminders for all drivers as school is back in session.

Stopping for school buses

If you are on a road with less than four lanes, you must stop your vehicle and remain stopped until the flashing lights on the bus turn off and the stop sign arm is pulled in.

Stopping for a school bus applies to drivers who are behind the bus, approaching it or on the opposite side of the road.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Two-lane road: All traffic from both directions must stop.

• Two-lane with a center turning lane: All traffic from both directions must stop.

• Four-lane road: Only traffic following the bus must stop.

• Four-lane roadway with a median: Only traffic following the bus must stop.

• Four or more lanes with a center turning lane: Only traffic following the bus must stop.

Is it illegal to pass a school bus?

It is illegal to pass a school bus in every single state when its stop sign arm is extended and lights are flashing. The flashing lights mean that children are getting on or off the bus.

What’s the penalty?

While safety is the priority, there are penalties for drivers who pass school buses, whether or not an officer sees you.

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Many school buses are equipped with cameras. Citations can also be issued based on witness information from school bus drivers.

Fines start at $500; other penalties include two points added to a license or a driver’s license suspension for up to a year.

The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation’s most recent survey on illegal passing of stopped school buses shows a staggering number of violators.

In the survey, more than 98,000 school bus drivers reported that 66,000 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day during the 2023-2024 school year.

School zones

In Ohio, the speed limit in school zones is 20 miles per hour:

• When kids are on their way to school or headed home for the day

• During school recess

• When there are signs posted that the speed limit is 20 mph

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the busiest times in school zones are 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

It is illegal to use your phone behind the wheel in Ohio if you are touching the device in any way.

Drivers caught on their phone may receive additional citations.

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