If a school bus is disabled off the roadway, where should flares be placed?

When a school bus is disabled off the roadway, placing flares or warning devices is crucial for ensuring the safety of the children aboard and alerting other drivers to the potential hazard. According to established guidelines, flares should be positioned well enough away from the bus to give approaching drivers ample warning about the situation ahead.

The correct placement of 100 feet to the rear of the bus provides a sufficient distance for oncoming traffic to notice the flares, react appropriately, and take necessary precautions to avoid a collision. This distance is standard as it allows enough time and space for vehicles traveling at typical highway speeds to slow down safely. The placement of flares is a critical part of safety protocols, especially when dealing with situations involving school buses, as they often have children onboard who may need to exit.

In contrast, placing flares at any distances shorter than 100 feet, such as 10 feet or even 200 feet, may not offer adequate warning time or could potentially create confusion for drivers. Thus, the positioning of flares at 100 feet to the rear strikes a necessary balance between visibility and safety for all involved.