Reduce your speed and continue driving with caution. And contrary to the behavior you often see, yellow lights are not a sign to speed up. A motorist must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights. In addition, there is a possibility of waiting for children darting in front of traffic. Do I remain stopped and get rear-ended on roadway or do I proceed slowly around bus from behind with caution. unloading passengers. Texas bus laws: When you can and can't pass a school bus The Law - Passing Stopped School Buses (39:4-128.1) 1) On a two-lane highway, or other road not divided by some type of physical barrier, stop at least 25 feet from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights whether or not you are traveling in the same direction as PDF School Bus Safety Brochure - Government of New Jersey You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. About 100 to 300 feet before stopping, amber lights are activated to signal passing vehicles to prepare to stop, because the school bus is about to stop and unload/load students. Please advise. If you are traveling on a highway having five or more lanes and having a shared center turn lane, it is only required for the vehicle in both lanes behind the school bus to come to a complete stop. You must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading passengers and the signals are not on. You may not proceed until all children have safely crossed the street. You must remain stopped until the STOP signal is retracted and the red lights are turned off. 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. The bus driver will flash lights on the front and rear of the bus. A painted median strip or turn lane does not create two separate roads. As a random example, Colorado prescribes 20 feet between the driver's vehicle and the school bus. 1990, c. H.8, s. 175 (8). Kids go back to use the playground at all hours. Never pass a bus with its red lights flashing on the right or on the left. 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. MCL 257.682 is specific to a driver's responsibilities regarding school bus issues. ALL VEHICLES MUST STOP! Facebook The yellow (or amber) lights go on before the bus stops and the red lights go on when the bus has stopped. In several instances, courts have held that this "activation" is not complete until the stop sign is fully extended. The only exception to this law is if a school bus has stopped on the other side of a divided I just passed a school bus with yellow lights on but he used When a school bus is stopped on a roadway to pick up or drop off passengers, the following regulations apply to other drivers on the roadway. 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. |. They could run into the road at any time. Stop for school buses because it's the right thing to do It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with red lights flashing on school property, on any undivided highway or parking area in Maine. Proceed with caution. What Is The Easiest Online Traffic School? 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. Traffic on the other side of the highway does not have to stop but should slow down and pass with caution. REMINDER TO ALL SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS: Teach students to check traffic before walking out into the roadway. Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling. Cited for passing a school bus - In-Depth Outdoors This can put drivers close to or over the 6-point threshold for an additional surcharge (see . A fine of up to $300 and/or suspension of your drivers license for a period up to thirty (30) days will be imposed for the first violation of this law. When the school bus is stopped, the alternate flashing red lights and the stop signal arm are activated. Stop and remain stopped until all persons are clear and the bus moves again. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. on a four-lane roadway and the bus is stopped in the opposite direction from which a driver 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. The vehicle shall remain stopped until the stop signal arm is retracted after which time the driver may proceed with due caution. 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. When meeting or overtaking, from either direction, a stopped school bus with flashing red lights. Be sure to slow down, look out for kids . It depends on the state. As soon as I got to the front bumper of the bus the arms swung out with the red lights. It looked like a deliberate attempt to entrap drivers in Sufflk county NY. Learn more in the Virginia drivers manual. I proceeded forward carefully thinking the bus had stopped because of some mechanical problem. G.S. If you fail to stop, you may be fined up to $1,000 and your driving privilege could be suspended for 1 year. We dont mind stopping if you give us adequate warning. The vehicle must remain stopped until the stop arm is pulled back and the bus resumes motion. When this occurs, the registered owner of the vehicle will be sent a warning letter explaining the seriousness of the violation. Drive slowly until you have passed them. Fines are doubled for failing to stop for a school bus with red loading/ unloading lights flashing. A turn lane in the middle of a four-lane highway is NOT considered a barrier, but a fifth lane that is suitable for vehicular traffic. 3. Every day, the numbers show some 50,000 drivers break the law by illegally passing school buses statewide. The school bus was going north and I was going east on the other street. Do not depend on these lights if traveling behind a school 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 that you can proceed. You must yield the right-of-way to school buses. Drive carefully and be ready to slow down and stop when you are near a school bus. Required fields are marked *. You must always stop if you are moving in the same direction as the bus and you must remain stopped until the stop signal is withdrawn. If the school bus is on the other side of a divided or multilane highway (two or more lanes in each direction), you do not need to stop. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. 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. http://publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/hsy7607.pdf. The only time a vehicle is not required to stop for a school bus is when both vehicles are Wait for the vehicle to move and scan before starting to drive again. They could be malfunctioning. Roadway striping by itself does not constitute a physical separation of the roadway. (b.) One unique aspect of the improper passing of a school bus violation is the fact that school bus drivers have been empowered to report drivers who . While wording of the law varies from State to State, motorists should slow down and prepare to stop at this point. Passing a school bus with yellow lights flashing : r/legaladvice - reddit 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. As the bus comes to a complete stop, the flashing red lights and stop signs will activate. When to Stop for School Buses in SC (and Why)! - James Scott Farrin Drivers approaching a school bus from the rear may not pass the school bus when red signal lights are flashing and shall bring their vehicles to a com- plete stop before reaching the school bus when it is stopped. Can you pass a school bus with flashing yellow lights Ohio? It is the law. You must stop when meeting or overtaking a school bus, church bus or daycare bus that is stopped to pick up or let off children. At this point, motorists behind the bus or traveling from the opposite direction on an undivided highway (the rule varies a bit) must stop. Children wait at least several feet away from a bus and often cross the street when theyre boarding or getting off the bus. If the vehicle that is involved in the violation is registered in the name of a rental or leasing company and the vehicle is rented or leased to another person at the time of the violation, the rental or leasing company may rebut the inference of quilt by providing the law enforcement officer or prosecuting authority with a copy of the rental or lease agreement in effect at the time of the violation. You must remain stopped until the bus moves or the bus driver signals for you to proceed. The following image is an example of an undivided roadway. The bus is a warning that children are in the area and may suddenly run into the road. When you come to a school or church bus that is stopped on any roadway to load or unload passengers, you must stop. Flashing amber lights are a pre-warning that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. If you see the yellow lights you need to slow down to 20mph. A motorist should only proceed after the bus signals have been turned off and even then, he/she must watch for children or persons who have developmental disabilities. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again. You should stop at least 20 feet (6 m) away from the bus. Passing A School Bus It is illegal to pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. 4. If you didn't get a ticket at the time, stop worrying about it. Drivers meeting a stopped school bus on this type of road would be required to stop in both directions. 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. For instance, if you're facing the bus and they have yellow lights on, you can drive by, or if its a 4 lane and they have yellow on, you don't have to stop, you can pass. Ahead of the new school year, visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb. This is because children are being loaded or unloaded. School buses make frequent stops, including at all railroad crossings. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they start driving again. Stay alert, if you have already started to pass. Learn more in the Illinois driver handbook. If the red lights . Passing a Stopped School Bus in Pennsylvania - Cornerstone Law Firm These lights could be malfunctioning. School buses may not be operated at a speed exceeding 50 mph. Don't pass a stopped school bus - Wisconsin Department of Transportation Image Credit: pixel2013 / Pixabay How Far Do You Have to Live from Your School to Get the Bus in Ohio? 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. Usually you can take a traffic school to accomplish this, but it will ultimately be up to the local court and judge. See Figure 4.1. My hunch is they are conscientious like I am. Big yellow warning lights - Chicago Tribune