Published Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:41 AM
Updated Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:41 AM

 

Guest Editorial

I would like to address an important issue, and I encourage all drivers who read this to share it with others, including those who are getting ready to drive.

The school year, as we know, is more than half over, and if you travel the county as I do, you have seen many school buses on the road. There are guidelines in place that dictate when to stop and when you don’t have to stop. I want to point out some safety issues and clarify any misunderstanding about when to stop for a stopped school bus.

First of all, I will say, “If in doubt … stop!” The safety of our children is much more important than being on time.

Now that I have said that, I will tell you what the law says. South Carolina school buses must be equipped with red and amber visual signals that must be activated when the bus is stopped or preparing to stop for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.  

When the red lights are activated on a single-lane highway, such as Highway 45, Highway 311, Jedburg Road, Highway 41, or old Highway 52 to name a few, you cannot pass that bus from either direction. The law says you cannot even overtake a bus when the amber lights are activated.

So when you see the amber lights, slow down; don’t pass and prepare to stop from either direction.

Four-lane highways and four-lane private roads are different.

The bus routes are designed to prevent a student from crossing a multi-lane highway such as the section of Highway 176 between Highway 52 and Carnes Crossing and like the double-lane Highway 52 between St. Stephen and Goose Creek. These routes are designed for the safety of the children.

If you are behind a school bus on a road like this, you are required to stop. However, if you are driving toward the bus from the opposite or oncoming lane on a four-lane highway, you do not have to stop. Please, keep a watchful eye on the children, because many times they are not mindful of us.

These children are also near roadways while waiting for their buses unfortunately at times before daybreak. The kids, overall, are not as aware of how dangerous our roads can be, so let’s do our part and watch for them.

Please remember, don’t pass a school bus when they initiate the red lights, and don’t attempt to catch up and overtake the school bus when the yellow or amber lights are activated from either direction of travel on a single-lane highway, and never pass a school bus from behind when the red or amber lights are activated while on a double-lane highway.

Wayne DeWitt is Sheriff of Berkeley County