This bill amends existing laws regarding school bus safety in South Dakota, specifically addressing the behavior of motor vehicle operators when approaching school buses. It clarifies that drivers on highways with less than two lanes in each direction must reduce their speed to fifteen miles per hour or less when approaching a school bus with amber lights flashing and must come to a complete stop when the bus has red lights flashing, maintaining a distance of at least fifteen feet. For highways with two or more lanes in each direction, drivers are not required to reduce speed or stop for a school bus traveling in the opposite direction, even if the bus is stopped with red lights flashing. However, drivers must still reduce speed and stop for buses traveling in the same direction when the red lights are activated.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision allowing recordings from external video systems on school buses, which can capture traffic activity around the bus, to be used as evidence in civil or criminal actions. It is important to note that while the bill allows for the use of such video evidence, it does not mandate that school districts or bus companies install these external video systems. A violation of the amended school bus safety regulations is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/24/2025: 32-32-6
Enrolled, 03/04/2025: 32-32-6