As schools around Butler County begin classes for the fall, drivers should take notice and slow down.

Students at Seneca Valley School District went back to school Tuesday, Aug, 22, and on Wednesday, students at Knoch, Mars Area, Slippery Rock Area and Allegheny-Clarion Valley school districts are going back to class. Some students at Karns City Area School District return Wednesday as well. (Due to ongoing renovations, students at the elementary schools won’t return until next week.)

By the end of August, all Butler County public school districts will have students back to school.

Drivers, take heed. Slow down, especially during morning and afternoon hours when school buses will be traveling the roads, and brush up on the rules of the road as they relate to school buses.

A July 27 article by the American Red Cross reminds drivers of the following:

– Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop. Drivers should slow down.

– Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign indicate the bus is stopped and children are either getting on or off the bus. Drivers should stop and remain in place until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn and all children have reached safety.

These rules apply for drivers who are behind a school bus, passing one going in the other direction, approaching an intersection where a school bus is stopped and traveling alongside one.

This includes two- and four-lane highways. Only if physical barriers — guardrails or concrete median barriers — separate oncoming traffic from the bus, drivers in the opposing lanes may proceed.

PennDOT reminds drivers to be vigilant, noting that crashes with school buses come with “strong penalties” and can have tragic consequences.

The department of transportation reminds drivers to watch for students who are waiting for buses, walking to bus stops or walking to school.

Additionally, drivers should take care in school zones. Drivers must slow to speeds of no more than 15 mph in school zones, according to PennDOT’s website.

The 2022 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics Report showed 2,756 people were involved in school bus crashes in the state in 2022, and that about 54% of crashes resulted in an injury.

About 70 percent of crashes involving school buses happen on state highways, and 28 percent on local roads.

In Pennsylvania in 2022, there was one school bus crash involving fatalities. Two were reported in 2021 — In November, a school bus driver and passenger died in a crash on Interstate 79 in Muddy Creek Township.

Drivers, stay alert — and remember that children’s lives are on the line.

— TL