Gainesville Accident Attorney Explains The Basics of School Bus Safety for Both Drivers and Students



As a Gainesville accident attorney and parent, I can say that observing school bus safety for our children is a very important topic. Here are the basic precautions every driver and student should know.


According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, each year school buses are passed illegally nearly two million times. For a vehicle to illegally pass a school bus, the bus must be stopped so that children may exit or enter the bus. This means that each year in Florida, millions of drivers are choosing to put the life and well-being of a school child at risk. However, the real tragedy of this statistic is that illegally passing a school bus is often the result of the motorist simply not wanting to be inconvenienced by a short wait.

Drivers should be aware that illegally passing a school bus is a moving violation and can result in both a fine and additional points on their license. Repeat offenders may even have their license suspended. To avoid possible penalties and decrease the risk of death or injury to a schoolchild, drivers should:

  • Remember to leave a safe distance between their vehicle and the bus;
  • Never attempt to pass a school bus when it is stopped or preparing to stop;
  • Remain stopped until the school bus retracts its stop sign arm;
  • Look for children around school bus loading and unloading areas;
  • Remember that vehicles on BOTH sides of the street should stop, unless the school bus in on a divided highway;
  • Pay attention to students, school crossing guards, and speed limits;
  • Remember that it is the driver's responsibility to avoid colliding with pedestrians.

Parents should also realize that a large part of school bus safety lies in educating their children on what to do to protect themselves. Parents should encourage their children to:

  • Walk to the bus stop instead of running or darting about;
  • Walk on the sidewalk or, if there is not sidewalk, walk on the left facing traffic;
  • Wait for the bus to arrive and for the stop arm to extend before getting on or off the bus;
  • Look both ways before crossing the street.

For more information, please see:

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles School Bus Safety Tips - Stop on Red

What are the rules in Florida regarding stopping for a school bus?




Attorney Jeffrey Meldon

Hello, I am Jeffrey Meldon. As an accident attorney, I strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one. 

My Office and Assoicates are located in Gainesville, Florida. We are Personal Injury Attorneys (Accident Lawyers). I take pride in my work and the results that I and my experienced team of Associates and Staff get for our clients.  

Everyone in my Office works hard to help accident victims get the justice and the fair settlement or jury verdict that they deserve thoughout the North and Central Florida area including: Ocala, Marion County, Alachua County, Lake City, Citrus County, Daytona Beach, and Inverness. I am highly involved with every case in my office and am the negotiator with insurance companies.

You can feel free to give me a call at 1 800 373 8000 or contact my office, with any questions you may have, or to discuss your unique case.

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