Page 46 - 2021 2022
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SECTION       9    : SHARING THE ROAD


        Sharing the Road With                                                Sharing the Road With
        School Buses                                                         Commercial Motor Vehicles
          In most cases, all drivers are required to                          Commercial motor vehicles are vital to the
        stop when approaching or meeting a stopped                           economy of Georgia and the United States. Most
        school bus that has its lights flashing and is                       of the products used in every day life were
        loading or unloading passengers. The exception                       delivered to stores by commercial motor ve-
        to this rule is when highways are separated in                       hicles. Drivers of commercial motor vehicles are
        the center by median   strips. In this situation,                    trained, specially licensed driving professionals.
        only vehicles following or traveling alongside                        Sharing the road with commercial motor ve-
        a school bus in the same direction must stop.                        hicles is a necessary part of travel. Heavy trucks
          A warning will be given in advance by the                          typically weigh 80,000 pounds or more, and driv-
        flashing red or amber lights on the front and                        ers should use caution when driving near them.
        rear of the bus.    After stopping, you must remain                   Everyone should be aware of the differ-
        stopped until the bus resumes motion or deac-                        ences between trucks and cars and behave ac-
        tivates its warning signals AND all loading or                       cordingly. These include:
        unloading passengers have cleared the roadway.
                                                                               •  A fully loaded tractor-trailer, traveling 55 mph,
                                                                              needs 3 times the distance a car needs to stop;
        GEORGIA FINES & PENALTIES                                              •  Large trucks are more difficult to maneuver,
         •  Mandatory court apearance;   •  Up to 6 points on driving record;   are longer and heavier, and require much

                                                                              more room to turn;
         •  Up to $1000 fine;      •     A conviction under 21 years of

                                     age   constitutes license                 •  Large trucks have larger blind spots, called
                                     suspension.                              “No-Zones.”
                                                                              The “No-Zone” represents the danger areas
                                                                             around trucks and buses where crashes are
                                                                             more likely to occur. Some No-Zones are actual
                                                                             blind spots or areas around trucks and buses
                                                                             where your car “disappears” from the view of
                                                                             the drivers. These blind spots are the Side No-
                                                                             Zone, Rear No-Zone, and Front No-Zone areas.















































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