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Many students will return from summer break next week.

That means school buses with be back in morning traffic.

State law requires cars to stop for school buses in some instances, but not others.

According to the SC Drivers Manual, you must stop when the school bus is stopped with lights flashing and passengers loading or unloading:

• On any 2-lane highway.

• On any 4-lane or multi-lane highway only when traveling behind a school bus.

• When a school bus has red or amber signals flashing.

• You must always stop on any highway when you are behind the bus. You must not proceed until the bus moves or the driver signals to you that the way is clear, or the red lights are no longer flashing.

You do not have to stop:

• When the bus is in a passenger loading zone completely off the main travel lanes and when children are not allowed to cross the road.

• When traveling in the opposite direction on a multi-lane highway or multi-lane private road. Both are defined as a road that consists of 4 lanes, having at least 2 traffic lanes in each direction.

Fines for passing a stopped school bus are:

• $500 and 6 points on your license for 1st offense.

• $2,000 and 6 points for 2nd offense.