While we’re on the subject of highway safety…

With the departure of Daylight Saving Time, it is important for motorists to be prepared to encounter school activity buses during darkening afternoons. After a hard day’s work, minds can wander as we drive home, our reservoirs of attention consumed during the day.

A school bus that has activated its flashing red light and/or extended its stop sign means stop.

Completely.

It doesn’t mean slow down.

It means stop.

And do not take your foot off the brakes until the school bus is underway again. The law doesn’t allow us to be like NASCAR drivers trying to anticipate a race restart and get a jump on all the other drivers.

When the red lights stop flashing, when the ‘stop’ sign is pulled back into the side of the bus, and when the bus starts moving, then you can begin driving to your destination.

While we’re at it, remember to obey the school zone speed limits.

And drive carefully where children are standing by the road waiting for the bus. Drive defensively. Expect anything to happen. Do not be distracted. Do not call anyone on your cellphone, and remember that texting is against the law.

Where children are gathered, a child might suddenly dart out for some reason, or for no reason at all.

Keep both eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel.

And a foot on the brake until the bus begins to move.

—JKW—