FERNDALE, Wash. — Tomorrow is the first day of classes for the 2019-2020 Ferndale school year and that means heavier traffic around school and school buses will be out in the mornings and afternoons. As a result, drivers need to be aware and know the law when encountering a school bus with activated flashing lights and extended stop paddles.
The laws are different in different states. According to the Washington State Patrol, in Washington State:
- You must ALWAYS stop if you are traveling in the same direction as the school bus.
- On a two-lane road, traffic in both directions need to stop.
- If there are three or more lanes, or a divided roadway, you are not required to stop if you’re traveling in the opposite direction of the bus.
- Even if you are not required to stop, you still need to proceed with caution.
- Failure to stop for a school bus can run you a $430 citation.
