The new school year is nearly here, which means school busses will be back out on the roads. With that in mind, Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar reminds people of the laws regarding school busses when they stop. When a bus has the stop arm out with flashing red lights, it’s illegal to pass it from either direction. Even if motorists don’t see any students getting off or on, they must stop in that situation. When a bus turns its flashing yellow lights on, people traveling in the opposite direction can still pass, but should exercise caution in case the bus stops suddenly. Any cars traveling the same direction are not allowed to pass a bus with flashing yellow lights.

He added drivers need to be aware that kids can pop out from anywhere, so they should pay close attention, especially in town and around school areas. The Sheriff’s Department stays active on the roads during school travel times, which Dunbar hopes encourages people to stay alert and watch their speed to help keep kids safe.