(COLORADO) — As the back-to-school season begins, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is reminding drivers of a new law designed to enhance safety for children on busy roads.

The law, which was codified under Senate Bill 25-1230, requires drivers who are approaching a school bus from an oncoming lane to come to a complete stop for school buses on roads marked with double yellow lines, unless there is a permanent barrier or a median separating the lanes. This measure aims to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of children getting on and off school buses.

“It’s to keep everybody safe. We want to make sure that drivers are driving safely, keeping themselves safe. And we want to make sure also that those children are safe if they’re leaving the bus,” said Gabriel Moltrer, a CSP trooper.

Trooper Moltrer emphasized the need for drivers to remain stopped until the school bus’s flashing lights have ceased and the stop sign is retracted. This ensures that children can safely cross the road without risk from oncoming traffic.

“From 2021 to 2025, there were five crashes that resulted from drivers not stopping for school buses with flashing lights,” Moltrer said.

The new law requires cooperation from all drivers to ensure the safety of children and reduce the risk of accidents involving school buses. As the school year begins, drivers are urged to be vigilant and adhere to the new regulations.

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