With the first day of school just days away, motorists are being reminded to slow down, stay alert and obey Georgia’s school bus laws as Chattooga County students return to class on Friday, July 24.

School buses will once again be traveling roads across the county during the early morning and afternoon hours, picking up and dropping off hundreds of students. Drivers are urged to allow extra travel time and be especially cautious in neighborhoods and along rural routes where children may be waiting for buses.

Under Georgia law, drivers traveling in both directions on an undivided roadway must stop when a school bus extends its stop arm and activates its flashing red lights. Drivers may only proceed after the stop arm is withdrawn and the bus begins moving again.

On divided highways with a grass median, concrete barrier or other physical separation, only vehicles traveling behind the bus are required to stop. Traffic traveling in the opposite direction is not required to stop but should continue with caution.

Passing a stopped school bus is not only dangerous but can also be expensive. Violators face significant fines, points on their driver’s license and possible court appearances. Many school buses are also equipped with stop-arm cameras that record vehicles illegally passing while children are boarding or exiting.

Parents are encouraged to remind children to remain a safe distance from the roadway, wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street and never walk behind a school bus.

As another school year begins, motorists are reminded that a few extra seconds of patience can help ensure every child arrives safely at school and returns home each afternoon.