LEONARDTOWN, Md. – In an effort to promote awareness of state traffic laws, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office will be posting excerpts of the 2018-2019 edition of The Maryland Vehicle Law Annotated on Tuesdays.
Adhering to the law will make roadways in St. Mary’s County and in Maryland safer for drivers, passengers, bicyclists, horse-and-buggy operators and pedestrians.
#TrafficTipTuesdays
Stopping for school buses:
Sec. 21-706. “If a school vehicle has stopped on a roadway and is operating the alternately flashing red lights … the driver of any other vehicle meeting or overtaking the school vehicle shall stop at least 20 feet from the rear of the school vehicle, if approaching the school vehicle from its rear, or at least 20 feet from the front of the school vehicle, if approaching the school vehicle from its front.”
When vehicles may proceed: “The driver of any other vehicle meeting or overtaking the school vehicle may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the alternately flashing red lights are deactivated.”
Drivers who run past a stopped school bus with its stop sign activated face a fine of $570 or three points on a driver’s license.
Vehicles on a divided highway do not need to stop for school buses if on the opposite side of the road’s median:
