Starting on Monday, March 1, 2021 all St. Mary's County Public School students return to classrooms on a modified basis and school buses are back on the roads.
St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office advises motorists to be mindful of school buses on roadways and students at bus stops.
Drivers are reminded to stop for school buses when electronic stop signs are deployed, as required by law.
If a vehicle has stopped on a roadway and is operating the alternately
flashing red lights, the driver of any vehicle following or approaching
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.
The driver of any vehicle following or approaching the school vehicle
may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the
alternately flashing red lights are deactivated. This does not apply to
the driver of a vehicle on a physically divided highway."
Drivers who run past a stopped school bus with its stop sign or red
lights activated face a fine of $570 or three points on a driver’s
license.
