Start of School Means School Bus Safety Awareness

School starts today in Tolland.

The Resident State Trooper's Office is reminding residents of the following aspects of school bus safety: 

• Cars must stop for flashing amber or red lights on a school bus on undivided roads with multiple lanes, even if a vehicle is in the furthest lane from the bus on the opposite side of the road, state police said. 

• The first-offense fine for passing a stopped school bus with its lights flashing is $465. Subsequent offenses require a summons to be issued.  School bus drivers have been directed to take down the registration plates of cars violating the  bus-stop rules and state police said they investigate all instances. 

• Cars should stop on both amber and red flashing school bus lights. 

• Drivers should assume that students are looking at the bus and not them. 

• The ideal stopping distance both in front and in back of a school bus is 10 feet. 

• Buses are n the roads all day during the school year. 

• Students should wait 10 feet from the curb and not proceed toward the bus until the driver nods and the red lights are flashing. 

• Drivers should not pass a stopped school bus with red flashing lights inside a school parking lot. 

• Motorists should take extra precautions on Crystal Lake Road during the school day because of several blind spots on the road.