Motorists reminded of bus safety rules

As school buses begin returning to roads across northwest Alabama this week, transportation officials remind parents, students and motorists the importance of school bus safety.

For bus drivers, the biggest safety concern isn’t rowdy students. It’s the drivers in the vehicles around them.

Colbert County Schools Transportation Director Wade Turberville said motorists illegally passing stopped buses or speeding to get around them remain the most common — and most dangerous — problems his drivers encounter each day.

“School buses travel at a slower speed the majority of the time and make frequent stops,” Turberville said. “No one wants to get stuck behind a school bus, but the safety of our students must be a top priority.”

School bus drivers activate their yellow warning lights 100 to 300 feet before stopping to load or unload students, signaling motorists to slow down and prepare to stop. Once the red lights begin flashing and the stop arm extends, drivers are required to stop and remain stopped until the bus begins moving again.

Instead, Turberville said many motorists accelerate when they see the yellow lights, attempting to pass the bus before it comes to a stop.

Turberville said that each year, the district completes an illegal passing survey for the state.

On April 15, 2026, Colbert County Schools reported four illegal passes by motorists. In 2025, 12 were reported.

Serving nine schools, the Colbert County Transportation Department navigates a variety of roadways to transport students to and from school.

“Highways present the greatest concern because of higher traffic speeds,” he said. “Though rural roads create their own hazards with narrow lanes, curves and hills that limit visibility.”

Lauderdale County Schools Transportation Director Brenda Dison said her drivers report motorists illegally passing stopped buses on a daily basis.

“Some motorists think the amber lights mean speed up; no, they mean slow and stop,” she said.

She said one of the most common mistakes is made when motorists are traveling alongside buses on four-lane highways.

“If there is not a grass or concrete barrier, all four lanes have to stop,” she said.

Russellville City Schools Transportation Supervisor Alan Wilson agreed that running the stop sign of a stopped school bus is the most common mistake motorists make.

He also said that while his drivers do not drop students on the opposite side of the highway from their destination, motorists are still required to stop.

Turberville, Dison and Wilson all said student expectations and school bus safety information is included in the student and parent handbooks presented at the beginning of each school year.

“We love these kids,” Dison said. “We want to get them from point A, to point B and back to point A again safely.”