08/17/2026
🚍 August is Back to School Month! 📚✏️
As students across St. Joseph County prepare to head back to the classroom, the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office reminds everyone to help make this school year a safe one by staying alert around school buses and in school zones.
Every child deserves to get to and from school safely. When you see a school bus:
🟡 Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop—slow down and be ready to stop.
🔴 Red flashing lights and the extended stop arm mean you must stop at least 20 feet away from the bus in both directions, unless you're traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway.
In Michigan during 2024, there were 54 crashes at school bus stops while bus lights and stop arms were activated, resulting in 26 injuries and one tragic fatality. These crashes are preventable.
As you travel throughout the county this school year:
🚸 Slow down in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
👀 Watch carefully for children crossing streets, riding bicycles, and walking between parked vehicles.
🛑 Stay alert for crossing guards and school safety patrols.
Remember, passing a stopped school bus is not only dangerous—it can result in a civil fine of up to $500, with significantly more severe penalties if someone is injured or killed.
Let's all do our part to keep our students, school staff, and bus drivers safe this school year.
