State Laws:
Stopping for School Buses

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Based on the results from a one-day survey reporting motorists who passed stopped school buses, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) organization estimates more than 43.5 million school bus passing violations within the 2022-2023 year among America's motoring public. This is up from an estimated 41.8 million the previous year. Illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be a GROWING and DANGEROUS problem. Annual Stop Arm Violation Survey.

Each state has different laws concerning when it is appropriate to pass a stopped school bus. This information is compiled from state driver license manuals and/or actual laws. This is ONLY a guide. Laws are subject to change. If you have ANY questions about the laws/regulations below, contact your local DMV.

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• Flashing amber Lights are a pre-warning that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. In rural areas, the lights are used at least 300 ft. before stopping and in municipalities at least 100 ft.
• Flashing red Lights and extended stop area means that the bus is stopped to either load or unload school children.

• Two-lane roadway: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
• Two-lane roadway with a center turning lane: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
• Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.

• Bicyclists and pedestrians.
• School safety patrols or crossing guards. Be sure to obey their directions at all times.
• Stopped school buses and children crossing the street.
  • Some school buses flash yellow lights when preparing to stop to let children off the bus. The yellow flashing lights warn you to slow down and prepare to stop.
  • 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. Remain stopped while the red lights are flashing. If you fail to stop, you may be fined up to $1,000 and your driving privilege could be suspended for one year.
  • 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 Lights
  School buses have two overhead alternately flashing yellow lights both front and rear. 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. Approach a bus flashing these yellow lights with caution and anticipate a stop. Children may be waiting for the bus or may be running to board it.

  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. You must not proceed until the red lights have stopped flashing, and the stop arm has been retracted, and then proceed cautiously.

  Identification of Violators
  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.

  • 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 of children. You must remain stopped until the stop signal is withdrawn and all children are clear of the roadway.
  • 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. Painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers. 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.
  • Moving violation subject to citation;
  • Must complete a basic driver improvement course;
  • Four points on your driver license; and
  • Minimum fine of $265, if you pass on the side where children enter and exit, you will receive a minimum fine of $465.
  • Serve 120 community service hours in a trauma center or hospital;
  • Participate in a victim's impact panel session or driver improvement course;
  • Six points on your driver license;
  • Suspension of license for a minimum of one year; and
  • A $1,500 fine.
  • In most cases, all drivers are required to stop when approaching or meeting a stopped school bus that has its lights flashing and is loading or unloading passengers. The exception to this rule is when highways are separated in the center by median strips. In this situation, only vehicles following or traveling alongside a school bus in the same direction must stop.
  • A warning will be given in advance by the flashing red or amber lights on the front and rear of the bus. After stopping, you must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or deactivates its warning signals AND all loading or unloading passengers have cleared the roadway.
  • When school bus stops for passengers, ALL traffic from both directions must stop
  • When school bus stops for passengers, ALL traffic from both directions must stop.
  • When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.
  • When school bus stops for passengers, ALL traffic from both directions must stop.
  • When school bus stops for passengers, ALL traffic from both directions must stop.
  • STOP for a school bus that is loading or unloading students. Traffic must stop and remain stopped as long as the red lights near the top of the bus are flashing and/or the stop arm on the left side of the bus is extended.
  • You must stop when approaching a school bus that is displaying flashing red lights while stopped to pick up or drop off children. You must remain stopped until all children are clear of the roadway and the bus.
  • You do not have to stop if you are traveling in the opposite direction on highways with four or more lanes if two lanes are going in each direction.
  • When a school bus is stopped to load or unload passengers
  • When a school bus has stopped to load or discharge passengers.
  • Any two-lane roadway, in rural areas and within city limits.
  • Any roadway, highway or private road.
  • Any parking lot located on school property.
  • Watch for children playing or congregating near bus stops
  • Be aware that children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking
  • Be prepared to stop when yellow flashing lights appear on the bus, which warn drivers the bus will be coming to a stop
  • You must stop for a school bus when there are two solid yellow lines between lanes of traffic whether the school bus is on your side of the road or on the opposite side of the road.
  • You must stop for a school bus when there is a center turning lane between the roadways, whether the school bus is on your side of the road or on the opposite side of the road.
  • You must stop for a school bus when you are on a multi-lane highway, whether the school bus is on your side of the road or on the opposite side of the road.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stop at least 20 feet from the back of the school bus, if you are behind it.
  • Stop at least 20 feet from the front of the school bus, if you are in front of it.
  • When the YELLOW hazard lights are flashing, proceed with caution.
  • When the YELLOW overhead lights are flashing, be prepared to stop.
  • When the RED overhead lights are flashing, stop at least 20 feet from the school bus. Remain stopped until the flashing red lights are turned off or the bus resumes its travels.
  • COME TO A COMPLETE STOP at least ten (10) feet away from the bus.
  • REMAIN STOPPED until the children have crossed the roadway AND the bus has resumed motion, its red lights no longer flash, and its stop sign is retracted.
  • You must stop for the school bus regardless of your direction of travel.
  • If you are traveling in the SAME direction as the stopped school bus you must still follow the procedures above. Come to a complete stop. Proceed only AFTER the children have exited the roadway AND the bus has resumed motion, its red lights no longer flash, AND the school bus stop sign is retracted.
  • If you are traveling in the OPPOSITE direction as the stopped school bus you may continue travel on your side of the divided highway without stopping.
    If the school bus is stopped in a loading zone that is part of the highway or adjacent to the highway, and where pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway, you do not have to stop.
  • On a two-lane road where the vehicles travel in either direction.
  • On a two-lane road that is a one way street.
  • When you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a highway divided by a median where the vehicles traveling one direction are on a totally separate road from the vehicles traveling the opposite direction;
  • When you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a highway containing four or more lanes of traffic; or
  • When a school bus is stopped in a loading zone (at a school) where students are not permitted to cross the roadway.
  • When a school bus is about to stop and load or unload children, the bus driver activates amber warning lights.
  • When meeting or overtaking a bus, slow to 25 MPH and prepare to stop.
  • The amber warning lights will stay on until the bus door opens.
  • When the bus driver opens the bus door, the red stop lights and STOP arm activates.
  • Stop and remain stopped until the bus driver retracts the stop arm and deactivates the red warning lights.
  • Stop a reasonable distance from the bus.
  • Not stopping when approaching or overtaking a school bus which has stop lights on and the stop arm extended is unlawful. The only exception occurs when approaching a school bus in the opposite direction on a roadway divided by a median.
  • First violation - penalty of $250
  • Second violation within 18 months – penalty of $275
  • Third violation (or more) within 18 months - penalty of $300
  • Two-lane roadway: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
  • Two-lane roadway with a center turning lane: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
  • Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
  • Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.
  • Roadway of four lanes or more with a center turning lane: When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.
  • If the bus is stopped on a street or road with 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.
  • If the bus is stopped on a street or road with four or more lanes, only traffic proceeding in the same direction as the bus must stop at the rear of the bus and remain stopped until the bus begins to move.
  • the bus has started moving, OR
  • the driver motions for you to proceed, OR
  • the red flashing lights go off and/or the sign is pulled back.
  • the bus is on a different roadway, OR
  • the bus is stopped in a loading zone by a controlled-access highway where pedestrians are not allowed to cross.
  • On any two-lane highway
  • On any four-lane or multi-lane highway only when traveling behind a school bus
  • When attempting to pass a school bus that has red or amber signals flashing
  • When the school bus is in a passenger loading zone completely off the main travel lanes and when pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway.
  • A driver of a vehicle does not have to stop upon meeting a stopped school bus when traveling in the opposite direction on a multi-lane highway or multi-lane private road. 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.
  • The bus has started moving, OR
  • The driver motions for you to proceed, OR
  • The visual signals are no longer activated such as the red flashing lights go off and/or the stop arm is pulled back.
  • The school bus has resumed motion;
  • You are signaled by the driver to proceed; or
  • The red lights are no longer flashing.
  • You must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading passengers and the signals are not on.
  • ou do not have to stop if you are traveling in the opposite direction on a roadway with a median or barrier dividing the road and the bus is on the opposite side of the median or barrier. However, be prepared for unexpected actions by persons exiting the school bus.
  • has three or more marked traffic lanes,
  • is separated by a median, or
  • is separated by a physical barrier.
  • On all highways, streets, parking lots, private roads or driveways, traffic in both directions must stop before reaching a school bus that has its red lights flashing which is receiving or discharging students. You may not proceed until the bus resumes motion, or signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated.
  • Only on Interstate Highways does traffic coming toward a school bus stopped on the other side of the median not have to stop.
  • You must also stop for a stopped school bus which is receiving or discharging students on school property or private property.
  1. It shall be the duty of every driver to stop when approaching or overtaking any bus or school bus that has stopped at the edge of a public road, to pick up or drop off students, even if the road has taxiways separated by a line painted on the pavement, if so directed by the driver of the bus or transportation by signs to that effect, and shall not resume the journey until the bus or transport has been set in motion, or the signals indicated above have ceased to operate, or the driver of the bus or transport so indicates by means of signs to that effect and, in the event that students are left, they have completely left the public road. Any driver who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of an administrative offense and shall be punished with a fine of three hundred (300) dollars.
  2. Every bus or transportation used in the transportation of students shall have clearly visible signs on the front and back with the words "SCHOOL BUS" or "SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION" in letters not less than eight inches (8") high in larger vehicles and six (6) inches in smaller vehicles. as defined by the Commission and signal lights installed as high and spaced laterally from each other as possible and at the same level. Such lights shall be capable of emitting alternating flashing red lights of such intensity that they are visible from five hundred (500) feet away.
  3. Any driver of a vehicle traveling on a public highway with physically separated taxiways or controlled access areas shall not stop when encountering or passing a school bus or transportation that is in a different taxiway area, or when the school bus or transportation is stopped in a loading and unloading area that is part of or adjacent to that public highway and where it is not permitted the pedestrian crossing.

  Translated to English

  * Although not a .gov website, it does appear to be the official home for the electronic version of the state's driver manual.