As the school year kicks off in St. Johns County, the Sheriff's Office takes to social media to remind drivers about the rules of the road when it comes to school buses. Yesterday, a post from St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, published just before the start of the new school year, emphasized the importance of adhering to the laws designed to keep students safe. The message is clear: slow down in school zones, obey crossing guards, and drive with caution around those large yellow carriers of our community's future.
The guidelines are straightforward, vehicles must stop for school buses with extended arms and flashing lights, and this isn't just a friendly suggestion, ignoring these rules can hit you with a hefty citation—not to mention a spike in your license points. In fact, passing a stopped bus can land drivers a citation and a minimum fine of $265, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. On multi-lane paved roads and two-lane byways, the law is universal on both sides: vehicles must stop for school kids' sakes.
But not every road rule is as commonly known, take divided highways for instance, where only vehicles behind the bus are mandated to stop, though oncoming traffic doesn't have the same requirement, a slow-down is strongly recommended. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office notes that these measures are more than just legal formalities—they are essential for the protection of the young scholars boarding and disembarking from buses each day.
