Defensive Driving
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Texas Defensive Driving Around School Buses
Under Texas law, a “school bus” is a bus designated to transport more than 15 passengers, including the operator, and used for purposes that include regularly transporting students to and from school-related events. Texas law actually requires school buses to meet many requirements and to have special features, including the color. The State also required the lettering on a bus be decals or be painted with a “first quality black enamel” paint.
A school bus is required to follow the same speed limits as other vehicles, with the following exceptions:
If the bus is on a highway that is not considered an Interstate Highway, its maximum speed limit is 50 miles per hour.
If the school bus is on an Interstate Highway, its maximum speed limit is 55 miles per hour.
If you approach a school bus on the highway, please keep in mind that it will be going slower than other traffic.
Like all vehicles school buses sometimes break down on the road. Although you are not required to stop when approaching a disabled school bus, you should slow down and be very cautious when you pass the bus. Children could be unloading to transfer into substituted vehicles and may attempt to cross the road.
School buses stop for all railroad crossing, regardless of whether the signals are flashing or not, effectively treating a railroad crossing as a stop sign. A school bus operator is required by law to stop at railroad crossings even if there are no trains in sight. The driver is required to listen and to look in both directions before proceeding through the crossings. While you should never tailgate anyone, you should especially avoid tailgating a school bus approaching a railroad crossing.
Texas has one of the largest school bus fleets in the nation. School bus safety is an important topic that is covered in our driving safety classes in the classroom or online. The best way to find out about local laws in your area is take a Texas defensive driving class - try www.comedydriving.com for more information.
