After receiving repeated complaints for drivers who are illegally passing school buses while picking up and dropping off students we are reminding the motoring public of the following information;
- Drivers on both sides of the road need to stop when school buses pick up or drop off children
- Drivers who ignore a stopped school bus risk injuring a child or worse
- Without exception, all traffic approaching a school bus with red flashing lights must stop
- Violators face a stiff fines and potential loss of license
- Expect strict enforcement efforts of witnessed violations by all NRPD Officers
 Many of the current complaints are originating from Main Street (rt.28) pickups and drop offs. As a reminder, in Massachusetts If a school bus or a school pupil transport vehicle has its lights flashing and a stop sign extended, you must stop. It is the law. It does not matter which side of the road you are traveling on. Remain stopped until the lights stop flashing or the stop sign folds back. The only exception to this law is if a school bus has stopped on the other side of a divided highway with a barrier between travel directions. In this case, you do not have to stop. (This exception does not apply anywhere in North Reading)
Final Note: Please pass along this information to others where you can, so that we all may work together in keeping our kids safe. |