JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) – Many students have to go back to school, which means traffic delays again. While some students are opting for the car line, others are taking the bright yellow school bus.

WBRC Fox 6 spoke with a Fultondale High School bus driver about what you and your students need to be aware of, especially around the 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. time slots.

According to Jimmie Lay, the biggest misconception among drivers is that on a four-lane road without a divided lane, you always have to stop when the bus stops, regardless of which direction you are traveling.

We all know the flashing red stop sign on the side of the bus, which means that the bus will soon stop and children will get on or off.

Far too often, drivers are distracted and violate traffic laws. This can lead to a life-changing mistake, such as when a student is hit while crossing the street.

Lay has a message for you: “Put your phone away. That’s the only thing. When we ride around on the buses, we’re higher than everyone else and it’s very sad to see everyone else in the car with their phone in their face instead of looking around. I mean, that’s bad.”

In our state, it is illegal to carry a cell phone or other electronic device while driving. You could be stopped, fined, and have your license suspended.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.

All rights reserved.