Due to letters sent recently by concerned parents to the
Department of Public Safety, Col. James M. Wolfinbarger, Chief of
the Colorado State Patrol, and Dr. Linda M. Kanan, Director of the
Colorado School Safety Resource Center, remind Colorado drivers
that they must come to a full stop “… upon meeting or overtaking
from either direction any school bus that has stopped …” and is
displaying flashing red lights, according to state law.
The requirement specifies that driver’s vehicle must remain at
least 20 feet from the bus.
Drivers may not proceed until the red lights have been turned
off, noted Chief Wolfinbarger.
Violations are a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense.
Colorado law also provides that non-compliant drivers witnessed
by a school bus driver may be cited later by a law enforcement
agency. A police officer does not have to witness such violations
in order for a driver to be cited for violating the law, reminded
Chief Wolfinbarger.
“School bus routes have changed this year. On Nov. 6, daylight
savings time ends, and drivers will need to be even more cautious
for children on their way to or from school. These factors, in
addition to the letters we have received, compel us to issue this
reminder,” said Dr. Kanan.