Pupil Transportation SectionPupil Transportation Section

ALABAMA ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

ALABAMA’S NEW ILLEGAL ALABAMA’S NEW ILLEGAL PASSING LAW Act 2006-PASSING LAW Act 2006-

311311

Signed by Gov. Bob Riley on Signed by Gov. Bob Riley on April 5, 2006April 5, 2006

Effective October 1, 2006Effective October 1, 2006

“Divided Highway” is defined as a roadway where opposing lanes are divided in order to impede traffic traveling in one direction from crossing over into the opposing lane(s). This includes grass medians, concrete barriers, guardrails, etc.

“The driver of a vehicle upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children on a highway, on a roadway, on school property, or upon a private road shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop before reaching the school bus …”

“The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway having four or more lanes which permits at least two lanes of traffic to travel in opposite directions need not stop the vehicle upon meeting a school bus which is stopped in the opposing roadway …”

•Increases PenaltiesIncreases Penalties

•Establishes Minimum FineEstablishes Minimum Fine

•Traffic not required to stop on Traffic not required to stop on divided four-lane highwaydivided four-lane highway

•Tag Number – Inference of Tag Number – Inference of ViolationViolation

•90% of fines to enforcement 90% of fines to enforcement agencyagency

ABOUT THE LAW

Increase in Student FatalitiesAlabama - 4 since 1998Nationally - 6 in 2004-05Loading/Unloading Fatalities As of April 5, 2006

Mobile County 8-year-old boy September 20, 2005 Dekalb County 6-year-old girl October 31, 2001Auburn City 5-year-old girl May 5, 2000 Lawrence County 7-year-old boy Dec. 17, 1998

•Increase in Illegal PassingsIncrease in Illegal Passings

•Enforcement DifficultiesEnforcement Difficulties

•Inconsistent PenaltiesInconsistent Penalties

               

  Illegal Passing Survey (State)  

  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

  Illegal Passings 1996 1778 1959 1746 1862

  Afternoon 55% 54% 52% 53% 55%

  1 - 5 Students 68% 63% 71% 73% 72%

  Passed - Front 80% 81% 81% 83% 83%

  Passed - Left 94% 97% 95% 97% 97%

  Cars 72% 71% 69% 69% 68%

  Light Truck/Van 22% 27% 25% 27% 27%

  Two Lane Roads 71% 70% 64% 62% 66%

  4 Lanes or More 23% 27% 28% 35% 32%

 

When school bus stops for When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both passengers, all traffic from both

directions must stop!directions must stop!

TWO-LANE ROADWAYTWO-LANE ROADWAY

FOUR-LANE ROADWAY FOUR-LANE ROADWAY WITHOUT A MEDIAN WITHOUT A MEDIAN

SEPARATIONSEPARATION

When school bus stops When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from for passengers, all traffic from

both directions must stop! both directions must stop!

ROADWAY OF FOUR LANES ROADWAY OF FOUR LANES OR MORE WITH A OR MORE WITH A CENTER TURNING LANECENTER TURNING LANE

When school bus stops When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from for passengers, all traffic from

both directions must stop!both directions must stop!

TWO-LANE ROADWAY WITH TWO-LANE ROADWAY WITH A CENTER A CENTER

TURNING LANETURNING LANE

When school bus stops When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from for passengers, all traffic from

both directions must stop! both directions must stop!

DIVIDED HIGHWAY OF FOUR DIVIDED HIGHWAY OF FOUR LANES OR MORE WITH A LANES OR MORE WITH A

MEDIAN SEPARATIONMEDIAN SEPARATION

When school bus stops When school bus stops for passengers, for passengers, only traffic only traffic following the bus must stopfollowing the bus must stop!!

PENALTIES FOR ILLEGALLY PENALTIES FOR ILLEGALLY PASSING A STOPPED PASSING A STOPPED

SCHOOL BUSSCHOOL BUS

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

PUBLIC AWARENESS

SCHOOL BUS STOP LAW FLYER

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY BROCHURE

STUDENT TRAINING

DRIVER TRAINING

ROUTE/STOP ASSESSMENT

COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

???

Joe Lightsey, Director

or

Brad Holley, State Field Specialist

Alabama Department of Education

Pupil Transportation Section

Montgomery, Alabama 36130

334-242-9730

joel@alsde.edu bholley@alsde.edu

Visit our website at www.alsde.edu Visit our website at www.alsde.edu

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.alsde.eduwww.alsde.edu

ALABAMA ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF

EDUCATIONEDUCATION