Maryland Injury Attorney Blog
Whether you’re young or old, summer sure seems to fly by faster and faster every year. By mid-August, Maryland parents and kids are scrambling to squeeze in as much remaining summer fun as they can, while getting ready for the 2025-2026 school year about to begin.
Back to school is a good time to review the Maryland traffic laws designed to keep our school children safe and avoid pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents. Let’s start with the army of school buses about to descend on our streets.
Brake, Slow, and Stop for Maryland School Bus Safety: Maryland traffic law related to school buses states that drivers on undivided roadways must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when its red lights flash and stop arm extends – when coming from either direction. No passing is allowed until the school bus lights stop flashing, the bus arm retracts, and the bus moves.
When traveling on Maryland’s divided highways separated by a grass medium, concrete divider, or other barrier, all vehicles traveling in the opposite direction may continue on their way; however, they must slow down and proceed with caution, as children could cross the roadway unexpectedly.
NOTE: Maryland school bus laws prohibit passing from behind or the front when the school bus signals activate, with violations resulting in fines up to $570 and three points on a driver’s license, enforced through patrols and automated cameras in some areas.
Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras in Maryland School Zones: Maryland School Zones, in general, have a 25 to 30 mile-per-hour speed limit, which can increase to 35 miles per hour if a crossing guard is present. Some school districts in the state have rolled out automated speed enforcement cameras, which are designed to detect and record vehicle speeds above a certain threshold. Speed cameras may be present when police officers are not on duty enforcing traffic laws outside the schools; speed camera data is reviewed by law enforcement officers to identify vehicles going too fast and contact their owners to receive a citation.
The bottom line is, slow down as soon as you see a School Zone sign and drive like our kids’ lives depend on it – because they do. Kids are excited to be back at school and are preoccupied with their phones and catching up with their friends – and they’re not always thinking about crossing the street safely, at crosswalks, and watching out for traffic.
School zones are vulnerable locations for children and other pedestrians, and it’s up to all of the motoring public in Maryland to help keep our school kids safe.
Sources:
Maryland Back-to-School Bus Stopping Rules
The Southern Maryland Chronicle Aug. 19, 2025
Automated Speed Enforcement School Zones
Maryland Department of Transportation – State Highway Administration collected online Aug. 20, 2025