Ellettsville – (Monroe County) This past Thursday, Indiana State Police Troopers from the Bloomington Post spent the afternoon patrolling for school bus stop arm violations; one trooper from the front seat of the bus and others from their patrol cars near the route. The purpose of this patrol was to keep students safe and to help educate the motoring public about when stopping is required to allow school bus drivers to do their job safely.
The afternoon patrol on West State Road 46 through Ellettsville produced several traffic stops and reminders for violators as to when stopping is required. The particular stretch on State Road 46 from Arlington Road to Hartstrait Road is a four lane highway (plus center lane) in Ellettsville that has no physical barrier between lanes. On that stretch, Indiana Law requires motorists travelling in both directions to stop when the school bus stop arm is displayed, even when the bus is several lanes away and travelling in the opposite direction. Only when a highway has a physical barrier separating both directions of travel (guard rails, concrete island, etc.) does opposite direction traffic not have to stop.
REMINDER - Every school year the Indiana State Police receives numerous complaints about school bus stop arm violations from school corporations around the state.
There are just over 16,000 school buses on the road in Indiana, and according to the yearly statistics, as the number of school buses on the road has increased, so has the number of school bus stop arm violations.
The Indiana State Police would like to remind motorists of the Indiana law concerning school buses, flashing lights and stop arms. Remember, when approaching a school bus, from any direction, that is stopped with its flashing red lights activated and its stop arm extended, motorists are required to STOP, even on multiple lane highways.
Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier or unimproved median are required to stop only if they are traveling the same direction as the school bus. If there is no unimproved median or barrier, then all lanes in all directions must stop.
When approaching a school bus always be prepared to stop and watch for stopped traffic.
Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a serious traffic violation, one that school bus drivers are quick to report. Violation of this law is a Class "A" infraction and is punishable by a maximum fine of up to $10,000.
The Indiana State Police is committed to the safety of our children, motorists and highways, and will continue our enforcement and education efforts to ensure that safety. To learn more about national stop arm violation statistics you may access the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services web site at http://www.nasdpts.org/StopArm/index.htm
To contact the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division with questions about stop arm violations you may click on the link https://secure.in.gov/ISP/BusInspections then click on email ISP.
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PHOTO 1 – Trooper Seth Parker seated behind a Richland Bean Blossom School Bus Driver, observing for school bus stop arm violations.
PHOTO 2- State Road 46 Traffic Sign Warning Motorists that all Lanes Must Stop When School Bus Stops
PHOTO 3- Photo of Westbound School Bus Stopping for Student Drop off and Approaching Eastbound Traffic
