Newtown Police Review School Bus Laws

It's the first day of school for Marple Newtown School District students. 

Sorry kids. 

Parents, as the new school year begins, children and school buses will be back on the streets and Newtown Township Police say everyone needs to be a little more cautious when behind the wheel.

Many drivers get distracted by non-driving tasks such as: eating, drinking, using cell phones, GPS devices, music devices, and talking with passengers. As the new school year starts and school buses and children crowd the streets again, Newtown Police review some rules of the road:

• It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus while its lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended.
• On undivided roadways, with no physical barrier or median, vehicles must stop on both sides of the roadway.  This includes 3-way and 4-way intersections, where vehicles must stop in all directions.
• Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and children are getting on or off. Motorists approaching from any direction must wait until the red lights stop flashing and children clear the roadway before proceeding.
• Drivers need to remember the unpredictability of children and be on the look out for all pedestrians.   
• Drivers must vigilantly watch the roadway at all times, and always follow the speed limit, which may be lowered in designated school zones to 15 miles per hour.