Duval School Leaders Beg Drivers: Stop for Buses!

Duval County School District leaders are pleading with drivers to exercise extreme caution around school buses after a student narrowly avoided injury in a recent incident. The district released a video Tuesday showing a car passing a stopped school bus, a situation that occurs daily.

The close call highlights the dangers posed by drivers who disregard school bus stop signals. Statewide, nearly 4,000 citations for passing a stopped school bus were issued last school year, indicating a persistent safety concern across Florida.

“We need to make sure we do our part to keep our students safe, so please remember to stop when you see a school bus with its lights flashing and stop arm extended,” said Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene. “It is a matter of life and death for our students.”

School buses use flashing lights and an extendable stop arm to signal when students are boarding or exiting. Drivers approaching a school bus from either direction must stop completely when the bus's red lights flash and the stop arm is extended. Violations carry significant fines and points on a driver's license.