Today marks the beginning of school for many parishes across South Louisiana. School buses will begin their routes early this morning and then be on the roads again this afternoon bringing children home.

Besides being cognizant of reduced speed and cell phone use restrictions in and around school zones another confusing topic that always comes up this time of year is when to stop for a school bus.

Courtesy LADOTD/ Louisiana State Police
Courtesy LADOTD/ Louisiana State Police
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Most of us are clear on when to stop on a two-lane road. It's pretty simple. If the bus driver puts out the stop sign, you stop until the driver pulls the sign back in.

On multi-lane roads is where it gets kind of tricky. Here's the basic explanation according to Louisiana law as told to WWL TV in New Orleans.

Three lanes: When the highway has a center turning lane with one travel lane on each side, vehicles traveling in each direction are required to stop when the bus' red lights are flashing.

Four lanes: Vehicles traveling in each direction are required to stop when the bus' red lights are flashing.

Divided highway: When the highway has a grass median or other physical barrier, only traffic moving in the same direction as the bus is required to stop when the bus' red lights are flashing. Oncoming traffic should proceed with caution.

Divided highway with a center turning lane: When the highway has a center turning lawn with two travel lanes on each side, only traffic moving in the same direction as the bus is required to stop when the bus' red lights are flashing. Oncoming traffic should proceed with caution.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation also offered this tips to motorists now that the new school year is beginning.

• Obey all speed limit signs in and around school zones.

• Watch for school buses, and stop for them when their red lights are flashing.

• Be on the lookout for children walking or riding bicycles.

• Don’t stop on crosswalks.

• Obey crossing guards on crosswalks.

• Don’t be distracted by cellphones or other electronic devices.

• Follow the school’s traffic pattern for dropping off and picking up children.

 

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