“The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.” As students head back to classrooms across Iowa this week, this song will be on the tip of our tongues. School buses carry our most precious cargo, and it’s illegal in every state to pass one while the stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing.
When you’re approaching a school bus slowing down or stopping, you should stop at least 20-25 feet from the vehicle from either direction. And it’s not just the bus that you need to put eyes on. Children often wait several feet away from a bus and may cross the street to board or step off.
Here’s a refresher on bus lights and why you should never attempt to pass when you see them:
- Yellow Flashing Lights: The bus is preparing to stop to load/unload children. Slow down and get stopped.
- Red Flashing Lights: These lights and extended stop-arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on/off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before you can proceed.
The way to school shouldn’t be in harm’s way, so be sure to teach your children well on how to navigate the bus stop.
In 2025, in Iowa, 179 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of 12 since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 356 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, visit the daily fatality report.