Full Notification

As the holiday season is in full swing, drivers are encouraged to slow down due to the increased traffic of holiday shoppers.

Drivers are also reminded schools are still in session and they should continue to watch for children who may be walking to and from school and to stop for school buses when they are loading and unloading students. There have been several fatal motor vehicle accidents in the metro Atlanta area this school year involving children leaving or going to school buses. School Crossing Guards are assigned to intersections near the schools. Drivers should watch for them and obey their traffic directions as they assist the children crossing the roads.

Each school zone is clearly marked with yellow flashing lights above the roadway as well as “school” in large white letters on the roadway. When the school zone lights are flashing, the maximum speed limit is 25 mph. Officers will patrol the school zones and operate radar in an effort to enforce this limit.

Georgia law (OCGA §4-6-163) states that traffic in both directions must stop for loading and unloading when a school bus has the driver’s side stop sign extended and the amber flashing lights activated. This law also applies to multi-laned roadways where there is a center turn lane. If the roadway has a median, only traffic behind the school bus is required to stop.

Watch out for children in and around schools and bus stops and be prepared to stop should they dart into the roadway. Slow down and stay alert - help protect our children.