September is here and school bus safety should be top of mind for all Montanans. According to the American School Bus Council, students are approximately 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus than when traveling by car. The risks of taking the bus are still real, however, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 113 occupants were killed in school transportation vehicles between 2014 and 2023. Motorists in Montana can reduce the risk of school bus related crashes by being aware of and following all school bus laws.
Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 61-9-402 dictates that cars in either lane of traffic, including on highways, must stop at least 30 feet from a school bus that has its amber or red lights activated. Oncoming traffic separated by a raised median is not required to stop. Some school buses include stop-arms, which are stop-sign shaped “arms” that flash and extend from the bus while children are boarding, exiting, approaching, or moving away from the bus. Paired with the bus’s flashing amber-to-red lights, these arms play a crucial role in alerting motorists to the bus driver’s intent to stop and load/unload students, but it is ultimately dependent on motorists to keep children safe.
You can do your part to ensure Montana’s students get the safe and comfortable ride to school they deserve.
- Stay alert and focused behind the wheel – mobile devices, passengers, and fatigue can take your eyes off the road.
- Use proper vehicle lights when weather or time of day limit visibility, especially in the mornings and evenings.
- Keep your vehicle in good repair with tires and brakes that allow safe stopping.
- Be extra mindful near schools, bus stops, and all intersections during school hours.
- Never pass a school bus when its amber or red lights are flashing.
Learn more about MDT’s goal of Vision Zero and what you can do to be safe on our roadways here.