SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WOWO) — As students across Indiana return to classrooms this week, state officials are reminding drivers to slow down and know when they are legally required to stop for a school bus.

Dozens of school districts are beginning the new school year, putting more school buses back on Indiana roads during the morning and afternoon commutes.

Indiana State Police and the Indiana Department of Transportation are emphasizing a basic rule for drivers: when a school bus has its red warning lights flashing and its stop arm extended, traffic may be required to stop.

On a two-lane road, drivers approaching a stopped school bus must stop regardless of which direction they are traveling according to WSBT.

That means a driver coming toward the bus cannot continue past it simply because the bus is on the opposite side of the road.

The same rule applies on a multi-lane roadway when there is no physical barrier separating the lanes of traffic.

Drivers traveling behind the bus must stop, and motorists approaching from the opposite direction must also stop.

There is an important exception on certain divided, multi-lane roads.

When a physical barrier, such as a grassy median or concrete divider, separates opposing traffic, drivers traveling in the opposite direction from the stopped school bus are not required to stop.

However, vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus must still stop when the bus has activated its stop arm and red warning lights.

The rules are designed to protect children who may be crossing the roadway as they get on or off a bus.

State officials are urging motorists not to assume a school bus will pull away quickly or that children will remain on the side of the road. Drivers should expect students to be nearby and be prepared for sudden movement.

The start of the school year also means drivers may encounter buses making frequent stops along routes that were less active during the summer.

Motorists should leave extra space around buses, avoid distractions and pay close attention to flashing lights and the extended stop arm.

The reminder comes as Indiana communities transition back to school-year traffic patterns, with buses operating during times when many people are commuting to work.

Officials say knowing the rules before encountering a stopped school bus can help prevent crashes and, more importantly, protect students.

For drivers, the message is simple: slow down, watch for school buses, and when the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, know whether the roadway requires you to stop.

A few extra seconds of caution can make the difference in getting a child safely to school and back home.