The Cobb County School District’s 2024-25 academic year begins on Thursday, and both the district and Cobb County government have been rounding up information related to bus transportation.
Foremost among those reminders is a new Georgia law that went into effect July 1 that makes it a “high and aggravated misdemeanor” to pass a stopped school bus.
The minimum fine is $1,000 and the maximum penalty is up to 12 months in jail.
“When the violation is caught by school bus-mounted cameras it is punishable by a civil fine of not less than $1,000,” according to information released this week by Cobb County government.
Some other tips to remember as buses will be back out on the roads:
- Yellow flashing lights mean the school bus is slowing down and about to stop.
- Red flashing lights and the extended stop arm mean children are boarding or exiting the bus. Motorists must come to a complete stop a safe distance from the bus. They must wait until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is retracted, and the bus starts moving again before they return to their drive.
- Children alongside the road might dart into traffic without looking. Motorists are responsible for watching out for them and preparing for an emergency stop.
- Motorists should drive more slowly if they see children beside the road or a bus nearby.
Cobb government also has provided links to new videos showing motorists how to stop for buses, depending on the type of road:
The Cobb school district has more specific information about finding bus routes, downloading its “Here Comes the Bus” mobile app and other transportation details to follow throughout the school year.
A special FAQ page has even more, including several links pertaining to transportation needs for special-needs students.
One other handy tip for the start of the school year: Students are allowed to bring water bottles on the buses in August and September, in containers with a screw-on lid.
For more information contact the Cobb school district’s transportation department at 678-594-8000.
Related:
- Cobb school board adopts millage rate for FY 2025
- Walton, Pope students awarded National Merit Scholarships
- Dodgen MS student honored as a top ‘young scientist’ by 3M
- Cobb school board cancels $50M special events center
- Sprayberry HS senior excluded from graduation gets apology
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