FHP Urges School Bus Safety

School buses are back on the road again and the Florida Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to extend these vehicles the legal courtesy they are due.

With about 24 million children commuting to school every year, accidents are bound to occur. A majority happen while children are boarding or unloading on the bus, according to FHP.

Here are some tips to keep safe:

•For those riding buses:

1. Line up facing the bus door and not along the side of the bus.

2. Never reach under the bus to retrieve anything that may have fallen under the bus.

3. Never cross the street behind a bus.

•For those driving or riding in a car:

The law is clear when it comes to stopping for a bus displaying its stop signals. Passing on either side of the bus is a moving violation, punishable by a mandatory court hearing.

Drivers on a divided highway with an unpaved space of at least five feet, a raised median or physical barrier are not required to stop when traveling in the opposite direction of a stopped school bus.