Many Utah Valley drivers seem not to understand the statute pertaining to motorist respone sibility for safety when school buses and school children are involved. One driver pleaded guilty to such a safety violation in Provo 8th Circuit Court Tuesday and was fined. Although the school buses have been running for only a short time since summer recess, numerous other drivers have shown disdain for the law, a woman bus driver told the Herald. The violations have to do with failing to heed red and yellow warning lights on the buses as they stop to allow students to board or leave the vehicle, Buses use a yellow light as a forewarning to let the motorists know the bus is stopping. As soon as the vehicle stops and the doors are open, the red lights begin to flash. When you see these warning lights, you’re required by law to stop your car behind the bus, if you’re traveling on a two-lane road in the same direction. You’re to remain there until the lights stop flashing or the bus pulls farther to the side of the road as a courtesy for you to proceed and clear the street. If you’re coming from the opposite direction on a two-lane road, you are also required by the law to stop in your lane of traffic, cautions Capt. Max Littlefield, deputy Provo police chief. If it’s a four-lane road, it isn’t necessary to stop, but the drivers should proceed slowly and with the greatest of caution. Back to the practice of many bus drivers pulling off onto the side of the road after the children have embarked or alighted: Capt. Littlefield says this is done as a gesture for courtesy and convenience to allow traffic. which may have backed up, to quickly clear the road. Observers have complained of other careless or unlawful motorist and pedestrian practices – such as speeding in school zones; parents waiting in automobiles encouraging children to jaywalk to cars; failure to make a complete stop at stop lights or when the semaphore is red; failing to heed the signals given by a crosswalk guard, etc. Any instance of unsafe conduct on the road could result in tragedy for both you and school children. Know the law and the “rules of the road”; practice courtesy whether you’re a motorist or pedestrian; and exercise every practice to avoid accident. The old cliche may be trite, but it still has meaning: It’s better to be safe than sorry!