HOUGHTON – The Houghton County Sheriff’s Department wants to educate and raise awareness about school zone safety laws in order to prevent a tragedy.

School zones, combined with changing traffic and weather conditions, can create an extremely dangerous situation, Sheriff Brian McLean said.

“Back to school is an exciting time for both parents and student,”,McLean said, “but we must remember to put safety first.” Preventing any tradedy involving our kids is the number one priority.”

The sheriff’s department is urging drivers to slow down and allow additional time and stay focused on driving tasks and surroundings.

“Just drive,” McLean said. The sheriff’s department would like to offer some tips and reminders to motorists.

School buses have two types of stop procedures while children are boarding and leaving the bus: Red stop lights and hazard lights.

School buses use overhead yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that they are preparing to stop. Red overhead flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm signal motorists that the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off the bus.

Yellow hazard lights, which are located just below the windshield and back windows, are used to alert motorists that the bus is pulling off the roadway in preparation for a hazard stop. This type of stop is done only when students to not have to cross a roadway while getting on or off the bus, and bus can safely pull out of the traffic lane. These types of stops are typical on busy roads to help traffic flow around the bus and prevent traffic backups.

It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children whild displaying the red overhead flashing lights and extended stop sign arm. All 50 states require traffic in both lanes to stop on undivided roadways when students are entering or exiting a school bus during a red light stop.

In Michigan, a divided highway is a roadway divided by a physical barrier such as a raised median or a guard rail. Drivers must stop for school buses on five lane highways with only a turn lane separating traffic.

It is illegal to pass a school bus on the right. A person found responsible for violating this civil infraction may be fined up to $500 and may be ordered to perform up to 100 hours of community service at a school.

The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being struck. Motorists are advised to stop far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary space to safely enter and exit the bus.