JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thousands of cars are illegally speeding past school buses in Florida every year, according to a survey.
The staggering number of cars has bus drivers concerned.
If you see a bus stopped, with its arm extended and red light flashing, you are required to stop. However, an alarming number of drivers aren’t doing that.
The survey from the Florida Department of Education found that in one day last year, almost 11,000 cars illegally passed buses.
In Northeast Florida, the survey found:
DUVAL
- 860 bus drivers surveyed
- 1,045 – total vehicles passing on day of survey
- 983 – vehicles passing on left
- 62 – vehicles passing on right
ST. JOHNS
- No report
CLAY
- 113 bus drivers surveyed
- 113 – total vehicles passing on day of survey
- 113 – vehicles passing on left
- 0 – vehicles passing on right
NASSAU
- 58 bus drivers surveyed
- 43 – total vehicles passing on day of survey
- 43 – vehicles passing on left
- 0 – vehicles passing on right
VIEW: Full survey results
Know the rules of the road
Drivers are reminded to share the road with school buses as students get ready to head back to school.
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles created this diagram to remind drivers of the rules when passing a bus.
If you are driving on a two-way street or on a roadway divided by a paved median, cars in both directions are required to stop until the school bus arm is withdrawn and no children are crossing.
On a divided highway where there is a raised barrier or at least five feet of unpaved space, drivers behind the bus must stop.
Drivers who pass a school bus illegally could face a citation, four points on their driver’s license, and a significant fine.