When a school bus is preparing to stop, its amber (yellow) lights will begin flashing. Required fields are marked *. Remember that vehicles that transport disabled persons can be equipped as school buses and you must stop for them as you would for other school buses. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. When approaching a school bus traveling in the opposite direction, a driver must slow the vehicle to 20 miles per hour or less when yellow lights are seen, and be prepared to stop when the stop arm is extended and red lights flash. Passing a school bus with yellow lights flashing I was approaching an intersection when I saw a school bus on the opposite end of the intersection. The driver must never attempt to pass in any direction until the school bus has finished receiving or discharging its passengers and begins moving without its red lights flashing. Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. If you are on a divided highway with two roads separated by an unpaved median strip or barrier, you must stop only if you are on the same side of the road as the bus. Drive carefully and be ready to slow down and stop when you are near a school bus. is traveling. Yellow lights indicate that they're coming to a stop for a pickup or if they're already stopped, the driver is on break or waiting for a pickup time to leave. Oncoming and following traffic must stop before they reach the bus when these signals are activated. Drivers must stop on the street or highway 20 feet or more from any school bus that has stopped and is flashing red warning lights. Any other time, a driver must stop before meeting or overtaking (passing) a school bus that is When you apply for a drivers license, you must certify, by signing the application, that you understand that you must stop for a school bus and are aware of the penalties for violating this law. Reduce your speed and continue driving with caution. When manually operated, yes, I think red lights went on before the bus had stopped. Increased fines and imprisonment may result for violations resulting in injury or death. You must remain stopped until the flashing red lights are no longer operating. Driver upon a highway with separated roadways providing two or more lanes in each direction need not stop when approaching a school bus which is headed in the opposite direction even though the bus is stopped and the stop arm is extended and the red flashing lights are activated. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. School bus laws. Learn more in the Indiana driver guidebook. When the red lights flash, stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the driver turns off the flashing red lights. Children waiting for the bus or leaving the bus might dart out into traffic. You must yield the right-of-way to school buses. Two Lane Roadway With A Center Turning Lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. Your child should never walk behind a school bus. NHTSA is responsible for establishing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes. The biggest threat to children who ride a bus to school is not the bus ride, but approaching or leaving the bus. The law covering this issue is NY VTL Section 1174 (a) called "Failure to Stop for a School Bus.". The penalty for failing to stop for a stopped school bus may not be waived, reduced, or suspended. Red Lights The overhead alternately flashing red lights and stop arm will be activated when the bus is stopped to pick up and discharge pupils. Red flashing lights mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. 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. Thank you for answer my question so quickly. You must stop for a school bus even if it is on the opposite side of a divided highway. 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. This is where you need to use your judgement, and it helps to know the rules that bus drivers follow. Motorists do not have to stop for the flashing red lights of the school bus when the bus is opposite your vehicle on a divided highway. A divided roadway is one in which the road is separated by physical barriers such as a fence, curbing or separation of the pavement. Must be waiting for kids to board but nobody is boarding. You must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading passengers and the signals are not on. When the yellow lights come on, the speed is reduced to 20mph, even if the street signs say otherwise. The bus is parked on the main roadway-NOT in a school driveway. The bus is a warning that children are in the area and may suddenly run into the road. 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. Whenever a school bus is stopped on a highway with alternating red signal lamps flashing, the driver of any motor vehicle on the same highway in the lane occupied by the school bus and all lanes adjacent to the lane occupied by the school bus shall stop the drivers vehicle before reaching the school bus and shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the flashing red signal lamps are turned off. You do not need to stop if meeting or passing a school bus that is on a different road or is stopped in an adjacent loading zone where pedestrians are not allowed to cross the road. There may be a white stop line painted on the pavement before the railroad tracks. It does not matter which side of the road you are traveling on. When you meet an oncoming school bus displaying flashing amber lights, you must slow down to no more than 20 mph and be prepared 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 . The only time you do not have to stop is when you are on the other side of a divided highway. I got violation for that. 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. Anticipate the bus stopping at its pickup and drop off points. 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. Seat belts play an important role in keeping vehicle passengers safe, but since school buses are different by design, they have a different kind of safety restraint system. It depends on the state. You must stop for any school bus with flashing lights if its stop-sign arm is out. Cannot proceed until the bus continues and the flashing lights are no longer illuminated. A stop is NOT required when approaching a stopped bus from the opposite direction upon a highway of four or more lanes. Learn more in the Arizona driver handbook. If the bus is stopped on a street or road which has four or more lanes, only traffic proceeding in the same direction as the bus must stop. In this case, I guess the driver thought I was a good idea to keep amber lights flashing. You must stop for a stopped school bus with flashing lights that is loading or unloading passengers. 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. I was stopped about 50 feet in front of the bus. After the school bus red lights have stopped flashing, watch for children along the side of the road. Drivers are not required to stop, if the school bus is approaching along an opposite lane of travel separated by a median twenty (20) feet or more in width. They may be equipped with a stop arm that extends from the bus near the drivers window when the red lights begin to flash. Stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading students. You may not proceed until all children have safely crossed the street. A divided highway is two roadways separated by a strip of land or other space not intended for vehicular travel. If any vehicle is witnessed by a police officer, school bus operator, or school crossing guard to be in violation of the school bus stop law and the operator is not otherwise apparent, it shall be assumed that the person in whose name the vehicle is registered committed such violation. Traffic on the other side of the highway does not have to stop but should slow down and pass with caution. Watch carefully for children near the school bus and children crossing the roadway before proceeding. You must stop: No driver of a school bus shall take on or discharge passengers at any location upon a highway consisting of four or more lanes of traffic, whether or not divided by a median or barrier, in such a manner as to require the passengers to cross more than two lanes of traffic. A second offense comes with a fine of no less than $250. You are not required to stop if the school bus is traveling toward you on a roadway that is separated by a median or other physical barrier. When the school bus driver activates the amber lights, he or she is warning other drivers that the bus is slowing and is going to load or unload children. Drivers on the same side of the divided highway as the school bus must stop if the red lights are flashing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Understanding Your Rights at a California DUI Checkpoint, Why We Should Abolish Drunk Driving Laws For Safety. You need to stop when the school bus lights up because the answer is clear. REMINDER TO ALL SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS: Teach students to check traffic before walking out into the roadway. Keep yellow lights on!! Learn more in the Mississippi drivers manual. There are a few exceptions where a stop is not necessary. When this occurs, the registered owner of the vehicle will be sent a warning letter explaining the seriousness of the violation. When a school bus is stopped and flashng its red lights, drivers approaching from both directions must stop. The drivers cannot proceed until 1) the bus begins moving; or 2) the bus driver signals to let vehicles pass; or 3) the red lights are no longer flashing. The only time a vehicle is not required to stop for a school bus is when both vehicles are Do not pass a school bus unless the driver signals you to do so. You must stop when you approach a school bus with flashing red lights activated and stop arm extended. On the bus has camera and took picture of my plate. You can be charged with a misdemeanor if you violate either of these laws. School buses make frequent stops, including at all railroad crossings. Learn more in the New Mexico driver guide. 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. Always use great care when approaching a stopped or slow-moving school bus. 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. Some school buses flash yellow lights when preparing to stop to let children off 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. When the door opens all the red light flashing to tell traffic to stop. Any driver approaching a school bus or church bus from the rear shall not pass the bus when red stop warning signal lights are flashing. Washington, D.C. 20590, Twitter Be sure to slow down, look out for kids . Answer (1 of 10): The flashing yellow lights warn that the bus is about to stop for a pick up or drop off. Children getting on or off school bus. A school bus driver is just a driver. Keep in mind that the bus is about to stop and children may be in the road. Through compartmentalization, children are protected from crashes by strong, closely -spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs. the bus is stopped in a loading zone by a controlled-access highway where, On any four-lane or multi-lane highway only when traveling. Drivers meeting a stopped school bus on this type of road would be required to stop in both directions. When a school bus is stopped in opposite lanes on a roadway separated by a ditch, grassy median, elevated concrete barrier or any obstacle that prevents traffic from driving thereon, you are not required to stop. 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. Always be alert for students on or near the roadway when a school bus is stopped. Exception: You may pass a school bus with activated flashing red lights, only if there is a physical barrier or separate roadways between your vehicle and the school bus. If your child drops something near the school bus, like a phone or book, the safest thing is for your child to tell the bus driver right away. An exception to this rule is Washington State where you may pass a stopped bus as long as the roadway is 3 lanes or more and you are in an opposing lane. The bus could be stopped for a period of time without the service door be opened. Learn more in the Illinois driver handbook. You must stop for stopped school buses with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign when you approach from any direction on a highway, private road or school driveway. Here are the rules in a nutshell: Blinking hazard lights (always yellow and not overhead): Pass with extreme caution. Pennsylvania has special rules you must follow when you drive near a school bus. Stopping for stopped school bus. 3. The signal will change soon. Ten seconds before a school bus stops, loads or unloads passengers, it will activate its flashing yellow or amber lights. Page 42 of the Traffic Digest (http://publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/hsy7607.pdf) points out that on a 4 lane road only traffic going the same direction as the bus must stop. 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. Drivers who illegally pass a bus face up to a $1,000 fine and could have their license suspended for one year. Yellow Lights School buses have two overhead alternately flashing yellow lights both front and rear. During the school year school buses are most likely to be on the road during a three hour period in the morning and a three hour period in the afternoon. Flashing Red Lights Flashing red lights warn motorists that the school bus is loading or unloading students. Do not go until they have completely left the roadway. However, if the owner or lessee of the vehicle can prove that another person was driving the vehicle at the time of the stop arm violation, the driver not the owner or lessee will be charged with the violation. The above is a general answer but should not be considered specific legal advice for your case. The amber warning lights will stay on until the bus door opens. The only exception to this is where you are approaching the bus from the opposite direction on a road with at least two lanes in each direction. School buses are designed so that theyre highly visible and include safety features such as flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors and stop-sign arms. Even after the warning signals have stopped, you should proceed slowly and continue to look for children. In 8 months this county has raked in 12m in camera fines. Children may attempt to cross the road close to the bus. This is because children are being loaded or unloaded. I was going to make a left turn away from the bus and one mother watching the kids crossing the street told me If you dont stop Im calling the cops. When amber lights begin flashing on top of a school bus, they mean that the school bus is slowing down and preparing to stop. G.S. REQUIRED STOPPING FOR SCHOOL BUSES Scenario 1: You are traveling on a two- or three-lane road Approaching the bus from the rear: When you see flashing red or amber warning lights, you are not permitted to pass the school bus and should be prepared to stop. For each subsequent like offense occurring within three years, such person shall be fined not less than $115.00 nor more than $575.00, and imprisoned not less than 60 days nor more than six months. However, a motorist should not depend on these lights, if driving behind a school bus. If you are following a bus, increase your following distance in order to get a better view. stopped in a loading zone and pedestrians arent permitted to cross. After the school bus red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm is no longer visible, watch for children along the side of the road and do not proceed until it is safe, after they have completely left the roadway. I passed by a stop school bus, but it hasnt pull out the stop sign and the red light until I passed by it. Remember, children are often unpredictable and may not see you coming. One of the many issues facing school bus laws (and many other driving laws) is that each state has their own rules. NRS 484B.353 requires a driver to stop at any location for a school bus displaying a flashing red light signal. highway with a barrier between travel directions. School buses are equipped with yellow and red lights that flash alternately to warn drivers that they are stopping to load or unload students. If you are driving on a roadway divided by a barrier or unimproved median, you are required to stop only if you are traveling in the same direction as the school bus. Once the flashing lights have turned red and the stop signs have extended from the side of the bus, it is unlawful for any vehicle to pass the stopped school bus while it is loading or unloading passengers. In rural areas, the lights are used at least 300 feet before stopping and in municipalities at least 100 feet. Learn more in the Vermont drivers license manual. is separated by a physical barrier. However, vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction on a divided highway are not required to stop. It looked like a deliberate attempt to entrap drivers in Sufflk county NY. The vehicle shall remain stopped until the stop signal arm is retracted after which time the driver may proceed with due caution. Points: Improper passing of a school bus in NJ is a 5-point offense. I was on a back road in Rumson NJ and came to an intersection. School buses are equipped with yellow (or amber) and red flashing lights. State law requires a motorist to stop at least 25 feet away if he/she is traveling on a two-lane road or on a multi-lane highway where lanes are only separated by lines, or on a privately maintained road. Please advise. A warning to let other drives know that the bus is waiting for children. Roadway striping by itself does not constitute a physical separation of the roadway. This caused multiple clusters of cars to stop along its way. For a first offense, violators of this law will face a mandatory fine of at least $150. Drivers use these warning signals when I stopped when I saw the School bus stop and turned on the red light. 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. Four Lane Roadway Without A Median: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. On a two-way street or highway, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a stopped school bus that is picking up or dropping off children. Learn more in the Massachusetts drivers manual. 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.

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