Safe driving tips involve school bus laws

Orleans County Sheriff Scott D. Hess wants the public to be aware that next week October 20-26 is National School Bus Safety Week. For twenty-three million students nationwide, their school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. Their greatest risk is not the bus ride itself, but rather walking up to or away from the bus. Sheriff Hess would like to remind everyone of the following traffic safety rules:

Watch carefully for children near school buildings, in areas where school buses are traveling, or where there are signs for school zones or bus stops. Also be observant during early morning hours, especially in unlighted rural areas, for students(s) waiting at the end of the driveway or by the roadside for their bus to come.

Remember that if you are approaching a school bus from either the front or the rear and it's yellow lights are flashing, that bus is preparing to stop to either pick up or discharge students.

If the school buses' red lights are flashing, you must stop. It's the law. This includes school buses' that are: on opposite sides of divided highways; on multiple lane roadways; in parking lots; on school grounds.

The only exception to this rule is if the bus driver or law enforcement officer signals that you may pass the bus.