You must stop a minimum of 20 feet from a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing. When you see them, decrease speed and be prepared to stop. The driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights are no longer activated. MCL 257.682 is specific to a driver's responsibilities regarding school bus issues. Always be careful around school buses and school bus stops. I should have this updated in the next week or two. Whoever is convicted of passing a stopped school bus with overhead and stop arm red lights flashing shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than $115.00 nor more than $230.00, or imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days, or both. You do not have to stop on a divided highway if the school bus is traveling in the opposite direction. While it is acceptable to pass a school bus with yellow warning lights flashing, it is both dangerous and illegal to A law enforcement officer with probable cause to believe a driver has violated this law may arrest the driver within four hours of the violation. Take note that school buses stop at railroad crossings. Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives. Your email address will not be published. You must remain stopped as long as the red lights flash or the stop arm is out. Showing our commitment to childrens safety on school buses, we have established minimum safety standardsfor school buses that are above and beyond those for regular buses because we believe school buses should be as safe as possible. Learn more in the Indiana driver guidebook. School bus drivers travel more than half a million miles and transport almost three-quarters of a million children each school day. Remember, children are often unpredictable and may not see you coming. If you are traveling on a two-lane roadway, traffic in both directions are required to stop. Learn more in the North Dakota drivers license manual. A conditional license may be issued following a suspension for a second offense after serving a minimum period of suspension without driving authority of three months. A multi-lane highway or multi-lane private road is defined as a highway or private road that consists of four lanes, having at least two traffic lanes in each direction. Failure to stop for a school bus with a flashing red light and extended stop arm will result in a 60-day suspension of your drivers license, five (5) points on your driving record and a fine. four or more lanes if two lanes are going in each direction. If you are approaching a stopped school bus from either direction, with its red lights flashing, you must bring your vehicle to a complete stop in front or rear of the school bus and wait while children are getting on or off the bus. When you stop for a school bus, you cannot drive again until the red lights stop flashing or when the bus driver or a traffic officer signals the you can proceed. A warning will be given in advance by the flashing red or amber lights on the front and rear of the bus. I was stopped about 50 feet in front of the bus. Learn more in the Washington state driver guide. Passing a stopped school bus on the right is a fine of $500 to $1,200 and license suspension of 30 days for first offense, no less than . Increased fines and imprisonment may result for violations resulting in injury or death. As I passed, the stop sign begin to extend, likely meaning the red lights started flashing. Small school buses (with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less) must be equipped with lap or lap/shoulder belts at all designated seating positions. The school bus stop signal arm will be extended after the school bus has come to a complete stop. When a school bus stops, all motorists traveling behind or approaching the bus must stop their vehicles at least 25 feet away. Can you pass a school bus with flashing yellow lights Ohio? Learn more in the Minnesota drivers manual. A driver approaching a school bus from the opposite direction must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the stop signal arm is no longer extended and the flashing lights are turned off or the school bus driver signals vehicles to pass. On a divided highway, you do not have to stop for a stopped school bus, even if the lights are flashing, as long as you are in the opposing traffic lanes. 2. Subdivision 1. When the bus flashes red lights (located at the top front and back of the bus), you must stop from either direction until the children are safely across the street and the lights stop flashing. When approaching a bus, please observe the following rules: Only on Interstate Highways does traffic coming toward a school bus stopped on the other side of the median not have to stop. " (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus which has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately flashing red lights located at the same level shall bring the vehicle to a full stop not less than 20 feet from the school bus and shall not . Yellow flashing lights means the bus is preparing to stop or unload children. Subdivision 1.Children getting on or off school bus. NHTSA decided the best way to provide crash protection to passengers of large school buses is through a concept called compartmentalization. This requires that the interior of large buses protect children without them needing to buckle up. Stop your vehicle and wait until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the driver or police officer to proceed. These lights must be continually displayed until after the bus has received or discharged passengers. You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. If you would like to discuss the particular problem you are facing, please contact Geoffrey Hood, Esquire at (215) 639-4400 More 0 found this answer helpful | 1 lawyer agrees Helpful Unhelpful You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. According to the legislation, the penalties for passing a school bus incorrectly would be increased from $500 to $1,000. When is it OK to pass a stopped school bus with its stop-arm out? When driving past a school, slow down and watch for children DAY and NIGHT. The law enforcement agency will attempt to determine the identity of the driver, and if the identity is established, the reporting of the license plate number by the school bus driver establishes probable cause upon which to issue a citation. BE ALERT. Thanks for bringing this up and helping me to improve the site! Iowa law: Children are likely to do something These lights continue to flash until the bus is fully stopped. They act similar to yellow lights. Learn more in the Maine motorist handbook. Never pass from any direction when the red lights are on. A driver of any vehicle shall stop the vehicle at least 15 feet from a school bus when its warning light is flashing unless the vehicle is on the other side of a divided median. Approach a bus flashing these yellow lights with caution and anticipate a stop. c. Check traffic before you pull back on to roadway. In every state, it is illegal for you to pass a school bus while the stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. There is one exception to this rule: on divided highways, you are only required to stop when you are traveling in the same direction as the school bus. Watch carefully for children near the school bus and children crossing the roadway before proceeding. The bus is parked on the main roadway-NOT in a school driveway. You must yield the right-of-way to school buses. Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. The only exception to this law is if a school bus has stopped on the other side of a divided These are really just like yellow lights at an intersection, meaning that if you're able to stop, then you should. A painted median strip or turn lane does not create two separate roads. the red flashing lights go off and/or the sign is pulled back. Learn more in the Wyoming rules of the road guide. After the school bus red lights have stopped flashing, watch for children along the side of the road and do not proceed until they have completely left the roadway. Learn more in the New York drivers handbook. Kids go back to use the playground at all hours. They will be activated approximately 10 seconds prior to the overhead flashing red lights to warn drivers of approaching vehicles that a stop to load or unload school children is about to be made. Traffic on the other side of the highway does not have to stop but should slow down and pass with caution. I noticed that the closest two cars that were already behind the bus, waited until the reds went off, rather than to take off. Flassing Yellow Lights Flashing yellow lights will be activated at least 100 feet before a school bus stops in a speed zone of 35 mph or less, and at least 300 feet before it stops in a speed zone of more than 35 mph. It is, as you said, confusing. Learn more in the Mississippi drivers manual. You must always stop before reaching any school bus from either direction when it is stopped to load or unload school children except when you are on the opposite side of a highway having four or more lanes, even then proceed slowly. As soon as I got to the front bumper of the bus the arms swung out with the red lights. Failure to do so could result in a fine between $30 and $300. When a school bus is stopped on a street or highway, or other location where signs have been erected under section 169.443, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and is displaying an extended stop-signal arm and flashing red lights, the driver of a vehicle approaching the bus shall stop the vehicle at least 20 feet away from the bus. While wording of the law varies from State to State, motorists should slow down and prepare to stop at this point. In my opinion, it is not a good idea. See Figure 4.1. The operator of a motor vehicle on a two-lane highway or a private road meeting or overtaking a school bus on which the amber warning lights are flashing shall reduce the speed of his/her vehicle to not more than twenty miles per hour and proceed past the school bus with caution. Below are specific rules for a variety of situations involving stopped school buses: Two-lane roadway: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. When you stop for a school bus, you cannot drive again until the red lights stop flashing or when the bus driver or a traffic officer signals that you can proceed. If the highway is divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least five feet wide, you do not have to stop if you are moving in the opposite direction of the bus. Divided Highway With Four Lanes Or More With A Median Separation: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop. Caution does not indicate one needs to stop. In Texas, breaking these laws will land you a fine up to $1,250 and, unlike other traffic tickets, it can't be taken away with defensive driving classes. The law requires that the school bus stop sign be activated. When a school bus is stopped and flashing its lights, traffic from either direction must stop on two-lane roads, multi-lane highways and even on divided highways. The vehicle must come to a complete stop when the bus is stopped. A yellow arrow means the protected turning time is ending. Stop and remain stopped until all persons are clear and the bus moves again. Washington, D.C. 20590, Twitter Yellow or amber lights before the bus stops, and red lights go on when it has stopped. You should stop if you can safely do so. A conditional license may be issued following a suspension for a third or further subsequent offense after serving a minimum period of suspension without driving authority of six months. Details: WebWhoever is convicted of passing a stopped school bus with overhead and stop arm red lights flashing shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than $115.00 nor more than $230.00, or imprisoned not school bus flashing lights law Answer (1 of 10): The flashing yellow lights warn that the bus is about to stop for a pick up or drop off. NRS 484B.353 requires a driver to stop at any location for a school bus displaying a flashing red light signal. The penalties for passing a stopped school bus illegally are also covered under the Illinois Vehicle Code, and they are harsh. This requirement applies not only on public highways but also on private roads and in parking lots. Continuing at low speed and not being able to stop when you reached the front bumper? You may not attempt to overtake or proceed past the school bus until the bus driver has turned off the flashing red lights. Always be prepared to stop when lights are flashing. Last updated: January 24, 2019School Zone10. You should not pass a bus at. Always slow down and never pass a school bus when you see the amber li. You must stop for a stopped school bus with flashing lights that is loading or unloading passengers. Learn more in the New Hampshire drivers manual. Any driver meeting a school bus or church bus on which the red stop warning signal lights are flashing should reduce his speed and bring the vehicle to a complete stop while the bus stop signal arm is extended. It is against the law for any driver to pass a school bus when the school bus displays a stop signal. You must stop for a school bus when you are at an intersection, whether the school bus is on your side of the road or on the opposite side of the road. The driver of any vehicle meeting or overtaking any school bus that has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children shall come to a complete stop at least ten (10) feet from the school bus before reaching the school bus when there is in operation on the school bus the flashing red lights provided in Section 63-7-23, or when a retractable, hand-operated stop sign is extended; the driver shall not proceed until the children have crossed the street or highway and the school bus has resumed motion or the flashing red lights are no longer actuated and the hand-operated stop sign is retracted. Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to load or unload children. You must stay stopped until the bus has started again or the bus driver stops operating the flashing red lights. Never pass on the right side of the bus, as this is where the children enter or exit. However, a stop is required when following a bus that is stopped on a two-lane road or you are going in the opposite direction of the bus on a highway that has less than four lanes, as they are generally not divided. It is not necessary to stop for a school bus stopped on the other side of a divided highway, where the road is separated by a barrier such as a concrete or grass median, island or other structures that separate the flow of traffic. G.S. It is a Class A misdemeanor and the driver can be fined between $250 and $1,000 for not stopping for a stopped school bus. When approaching a bus stop: Disregarding a school bus stop arm can be considered reckless driving, a Class B Misdemeanor, and is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. Drivers must stay stopped until the red lights are off. It is against the law to pass on the right side of a school bus while it is displaying red or yellow flashing lights. Flashing Red Lights Flashing red lights warn motorists that the school bus is loading or unloading students. b. A first violation of this law can cause a license suspension and a $250 fine. They could run into the road at any time. Monitoring cameras may be placed on county school buses to record other vehicles committing violations relating to overtaking and passing school vehicles. Learn more in the Arizona driver handbook. 2. I was moving down folsom one afternoon and I was in the center lane when I spotted a school bus to my right and saw the red light come on, I tried to stop only to have 3 cars honked madeley at me and one motorcycle cursed me outeither they did not see the school bus or thought to pass anyway as I believe we were even with the school bus when I saw himI found I had to keep moving, as cars behind me who were traveling at 45 too might have hit me.