Back to school countdown: Cobb bus safety, stop-arm reminders

Cobb school bus safety

Cobb and Marietta schools begin a new academic year on Thursday, and the school districts as well as local police are reminding motorists of what they’ve got to obey when the buses are out on the roads, picking up and dropping off students.

A few school zone driving safety tips from Cobb Police:

• 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 busses 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, in school parking lots, etc.
• Never pass other vehicles while driving in a school zone.
• Never change lanes while driving in a school zone.
• Never make U-Turns 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.
• Unless licensed to do so, never use handicap or emergency vehicle lanes or spaces to drop off or pick up children at school.

Cobb school bus safety

And more about the Georgia stop-arm law, which was changed by the legislature earlier this year. Click here for a larger version of the graphic above, which is summarized below:

On a two-lane roadway:
ALL traffic from both directions must stop when a school bus stops for passengers. Once the bus starts flashing its red lights and its stop signs have extended from the side, it is unlawful for any vehicle to pass the stopped school bus while it is loading or unloading passengers.
On a two-lane roadway with a center turning lane:
ALL traffic from both directions must stop when a school bus stops for passengers. Once the bus starts flashing its red lights and its stop signs have extended from the side, it is unlawful for any vehicle to pass the stopped school bus while it is loading or unloading passengers.
On a four-lane roadway without a median separation:
ALL traffic from both directions must stop when a school bus stops for passengers. Once the bus starts flashing its red lights and its stop signs have extended from the side, it is unlawful for any vehicle to pass the stopped school bus while it is loading or unloading passengers.
On a roadway with four or more lanes and a center turning lane:
Previously: ALL traffic from both directions must stop when a school bus stops for passengers. After July 1, if there’s either a concrete or grass median, or a turn lane, drivers traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop for buses that are loading and unloading passengers.
On a divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation:
Only traffic following the bus must stop when a school bus stops for passengers. According to the new state law, if there’s either a concrete or grass median, or a turn lane, drivers traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop for buses that are loading and unloading passengers.