(Juneau) With kids now going back to school, the Dodge County sheriff is providing some safety tips to keep in mind. Sheriff Dale Schmidt says it is important for motorists to stay alert when driving near school buses.
“A lot of people think that the stop sign [on a school bus] has something to do with the law…the stop sign on a school bus actually means very little…it’s a nice little reminder that says you need to stop when the stop sign is out…but the law says if the school bus is stopped and the red lights on the top are flashing…then you must stop prior to…I believe its 20 feet before you get to that school bus…from the front or the rear…you have to come to a complete stop,” says Schmidt.
Schmidt adds that a driver must stay stopped until those lights turn off, or the bus begins to move. According to the state’s Department of Transportation, there are approximately 600 crashes involving school buses every year in Wisconsin. The sheriff also reminds the public that speed limits change when children are present.
“Now with school started…if there is a child present in a school zone that speed limit is likely reduced,” says Schmidt. “So, watch for that sign that says ‘Speed Limit 15’…most places it’s 15 when children are present. That means if somebody is on that sidewalk…if somebody can come out into the street…there’s a child present…they don’t even have to be walking to school…if there’s a child present in that zone…15 is your max speed in most of those areas.”
Schmidt says law enforcement do routine patrols in these areas and will write citations for drivers going 25-miles-per-hour in a school zone when the criteria has been met to reduce the speed limit to 15.
