With students set to return to the classroom in the coming weeks, Kentucky drivers are being reminded of a new law aimed at improving safety for children getting on and off school buses.
House Bill 7 officially took effect on July 15, expanding when motorists are required to stop for school and church buses displaying their stop signs.
Under the new law, traffic in both directions must stop for a stopped bus on:
- Two-lane roads
- Three-lane roads
- Roads with a center turn lane
- Highways with four or more lanes unless they are separated by a raised physical barrier or an unpaved median.
A center turn lane does not count as a barrier, meaning drivers traveling in the opposite direction must still stop.
The legislation also allows school districts to install exterior cameras on buses to record drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. If the driver cannot be identified, the vehicle’s registered owner or lessee may be held responsible.
Penalties for violating the law include a $300 fine for a first offense and $500 for a second offense.
As another school year begins, officials are urging motorists to stay alert, slow down near bus stops, and remember that protecting children starts with obeying the law.