unexpected, so be prepared. Before a school bus stops to load or discharge passengers, the driver will usually flash yellow warning lights. Learn more in the Kentucky driver manual. four or more lanes if two lanes are going in each direction. Flashing amber lights are a pre-warning that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. On a highway divided by a median, cars traveling on the opposite side from the stopped school bus are not required to stop, however, drivers should remain attentive for children walking along or crossing the roadway. 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. 10.6.2 - How ABS Helps You . Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. A stop is NOT required when approaching a stopped bus from the opposite direction upon a highway of four or more lanes. A first conviction there shall be fined not less than Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00) nor more than Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), or imprisoned for not more than one (1) year, or both. The driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights are no longer activated. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. The biggest threat to children who ride a bus to school is not the bus ride, but approaching or leaving the bus. It is against the law to attempt to speed up and pass the bus. NHTSA is responsible for establishing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes. You do not have to stop on a divided highway if the school bus is traveling in the opposite direction. By law, you must remain stopped until all people are clear of the roadway and the bus is in motion. What Is The Easiest Online Traffic School? You must stop for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing whether it is on your side of the road, the opposite side of the road, or at an intersection you are approaching. My question, is it legal to for me to stop and then make the left turn while the kids are crossing on the right side of the intersection ? In 8 months this county has raked in 12m in camera fines. The only time it's okay to pass a bus with red lights flashing is if you're going the opposite direction on a separated roadway. Two Lane Roadway With A Center Turning Lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. You would think stop lights and flashers would be going. You must stop at least thirty feet from a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children. If the bus is stopped on a street or road which has fewer than four lanes, all traffic approaching the bus from either direction must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus and remain stopped until the bus begins to move or the bus driver signals motorists to proceed. Each school day, millions of children ride school buses. They could run into the road at any time. " (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 law requires you remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing (CVC 22454). When on a four-lane or multi-lane highway, traffic behind a stopped bus is required to stop. Children may be waiting for the bus or may be running to board it. Learn more in the Rhode Island driving manual. Thank you for answer my question so quickly. tsme-esr 23 days ago Some school bus drivers can't drive. Remember, children are often unpredictable and may not see you coming. All are chrome yellow and display the words "School Bus." . I was waiting for about twenty seconds and the yellow light was still flashing but there was nothing happening it seemed. You should be preparing to stop. However, the yellow means you have to slow down and stop. Oncoming traffic and motorists approaching the bus from behind may not move until the stop arm is retracted and the red lights are no longer flashing. Subsequent offenses have increased penalties. You must stop for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and/or stop arm extended. When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and its stop arm extended, you must stop your vehicle at least 20 feet from the bus. After the bus has stopped, the driver will activate the alternately flashing red warning lights. If you are traveling on a four-lane roadway without a median, traffic in both directions are required to stop. 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. School buses have flashing amber and red lights near the top of thebus on the front and rear. If you see flashing red lights, that means the bus has stopped and is loading or unloading students. 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. . You must remain stopped until the school bus moves ahead or until the stop-sign arm and flashing lights are no longer shown. http://publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/hsy7607.pdf. We also offer parents safety information about school buses and traffic safety rules for drivers and children to follow near bus stops and school zones. When the bus stops with its red lights flashing and its stop arm extended, you must stop at least 10 feet away from the bus whether you are behind it or coming toward it on the same roadway or approaching an intersection at which the school bus is stopped. letting pupils on and off. Learn more in the Nevada Driver Handbook. Red flashing lights mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Drive carefully and be ready to slow down and stop when you are near a school bus. School bus drivers travel more than half a million miles and transport almost three-quarters of a million children each school day. 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. The penalties for passing a stopped school bus illegally are also covered under the Illinois Vehicle Code, and they are harsh. topping is required in the following situation: the driver motions for you to proceed, OR. 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. Learn more in the South Dakota driving handbook. The yellow flashing lights warn you to slow down and prepare to stop. This can put drivers close to or over the 6-point threshold for an additional surcharge (see . When I looked in my rear view other cars were stopping. Six (6) points assessed against driving record. If you cannot stop safely, cautiously cross the intersection. Image #2 of MultiLane traffic being required to stop is inaccurate (at least for Ohio its wrong). It is illegal to pass a school bus that has stopped to load or unload students. A first violation of this law can cause a license suspension and a $250 fine. Bus drivers will activate the flashing yellow lights of the bus at least 100 feet but no more than 500 feet before the school bus stop. Do not go until they have completely left the roadway. You are not required to stop if the bus is traveling towards you and the roadway is separated by a median or other physical barrier. Learn more in the Vermont drivers license manual. Safety Tip: Most school bus-related deaths and injuries occur while children cross the street after being discharged from the bus, not in collisions that involve school buses. receiving or discharging children. Before a school bus stops to load or discharge passengers, the driver will usually flash warning lights, which are located on the front and back of the bus near the roof. Section 4511.75. Isaacs Law (5-10-105): A person who violates this law is subject to Class C Felony, for Hi Lily Its pretty tough to say, but if you have a clean driving record I am confident you can work out a deal with the court to avoid having your driving record tarnished. When you see them, decrease speed and be prepared to stop. 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. 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. Never pass from any direction when the red lights are on. The amber warning lights will stay on until the bus door opens. 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. When meeting or overtaking, from either direction, a stopped school bus with flashing red lights. As the bus comes to a complete stop, the flashing red lights and stop signs will activate. When a school bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children, the driver of the bus will activate flashing yellow lights. When the bus is in a passenger loading zone completely off the main travel lanes and when pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway. These warning lights may also be lighted at other times while the bus is transporting school children. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are not legally required to stop. (MCL 257.601b (1)) You must remain stopped as long as the red lights flash or the stop arm is out. When the bus stops, motorists traveling behind or approaching the bus must stop at least 25 feet from the school bus. Monitoring cameras may be placed on county school buses to record other vehicles committing violations relating to overtaking and passing school vehicles. You must stop when you approach a school bus with flashing red lights activated and stop arm extended. Learn more in the Missouri driver guide here. No it's not ok. Just as technically it's not ok to move through an intersection on yellow either. Receiving or discharging passengers. Keep in mind that the bus is about to stop and children may be in the road.