School buses may not be operated at a speed exceeding 50 mph. " (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 . They could be malfunctioning. School buses are equipped with yellow and red lights that flash alternately to warn drivers that they are stopping to load or unload students. Buses typically travel at lower rates of speed and make frequent stops. South Carolina laws make it illegal to pass a school bus when its yellow lights are flashing. The bus could be stopped for a period of time without the service door be opened. Keep in mind that the bus is about to stop and children may be in the road. 1. When the yellow lights come on, the speed is reduced to 20mph, even if the street signs say otherwise. After the bus has stopped, the driver will activate the alternately flashing red warning lights. One of the many issues facing school bus laws (and many other driving laws) is that each state has their own rules. 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. Stop your vehicle and wait until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the driver or police officer to proceed. 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. 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. They will also face a mandatory suspension of three months. Wait for the vehicle to move and scan before starting to drive again. These rules protect children and drivers. I stopped for a moment and looked. 2. A fine of a minimum of $250 not to exceed $1000, up to ninety (90) days jail and/or both. At this point, motorists behind the bus or traveling from the opposite direction on an undivided highway (the rule varies a bit) must stop. They could run into the road at any time. 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. The driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights are no longer activated. Learn more in the Colorado driver handbook. Yellow Lights School buses have two overhead alternately flashing yellow lights both front and rear. 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. highway with a barrier between travel directions. Once the bus stops, the red lights and stop arm will be activated. Drive carefully and be ready to slow down and stop when you are near a school bus. Where there are school buses, there are usually children. You must remain stopped as long as the red lights flash or the stop arm is out. Learn the school bus laws in your state and always follow them, as well as the flashing lights that school bus drivers use to alert you. There are a few exceptions where a stop is not necessary. Learn more in the Maine motorist handbook. Drivers on the other side of the divided highway may pass, but must slow down to 10 mph. These lights must be continually displayed until after the bus has received or discharged passengers. Use extra care around buses and in school zones. Learn more in the West Virginia drivers license handbook. I stopped when I saw the School bus stop and turned on the red light. No matter where your vehicle is positioned with the bus whether its in the same lane of traffic, opposing lane or at an intersection, YOU MUST MAKE A COMPLETE 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. Always be prepared to stop when lights are flashing. Some school buses are equipped with roof . 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. 1990, c. H.8, s. 175 (8). 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. Did you know that the school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the road? This includes: A warning will be given by the school bus at least 100 feet (200 feet in rural areas) in advance of a stop. Any other time, a driver must stop before meeting or overtaking (passing) a school bus that is The operator of a motor vehicle on a highway providing two or more lanes in each direction shall stop when he approaches a school bus traveling in the same direction when the school bus is stopped and its red signal lights are flashing. When passing a school bus that has red or amber signals flashing. Never drive around a school bus with its red overhead lights flashing; it is picking up or dropping off passengers. 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. Red flashing lights mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. However, with school buses it indicates the action of stopping and stopped until the service door is opened. Traffic approaching a school bus in the opposing roadway of a divided highway is not required to stop. 1. If you approach a bus with flashing red lights and/or showing a red STOP sign, it means that children are getting on or off the bus and you must stop. You must remain stopped until the school bus moves ahead or until the stop-sign arm and flashing lights are no longer shown. Learn more in the Massachusetts drivers manual. This is because children are being loaded or unloaded. 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 a school bus is stopped and flashng its red lights, drivers approaching from both directions must stop. Hi Lily Yes, if the bus did not have the stop sign out or the red lights flashing when you passed the bus, I would strongly consider fighting the ticket. Lets give our children a brake. Every child is a human caution sign and as unpredictable as Montanas weather. To start, here's what is crystal clear when you look up the rules: When a bus is. Do not pass the school bus until: It is not necessary to stop when passing a school bus on a different road or when on a controlled-access highway where the bus is Children getting on or off school bus. |. A first violation of this law can cause a license suspension and a $250 fine. Learn more in the Rhode Island driving manual. If you are approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended and you are driving on the opposite side of a divided highway, (i.e. As a random example, Colorado prescribes 20 feet between the driver's vehicle and the school bus. Big yellow warning lights. However, the yellow means you have to slow down and stop. The penalty for failing to stop for a stopped school bus may not be waived, reduced, or suspended. A school bus driver is just a driver. 2. For a first offense, violators of this law will face a mandatory fine of at least $150. Watch carefully for children near the school bus and children crossing the roadway before proceeding. 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. 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. 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. Learn more in the South Dakota driving handbook. I noticed that the closest two cars that were already behind the bus, waited until the reds went off, rather than to take off. 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. NY code requires you to stop for a school bus has that has stopped to receive or discharge any passengers and when there is in operation on said school bus a red visual signal. A warning to let other drives know that the bus is waiting for children. These warning lights may also be lighted at other times while the bus is transporting school children. I passed by a stop school bus, but it hasnt pull out the stop sign and the red light until I passed by it. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. Approach a bus flashing these yellow lights with caution and anticipate a stop. Do not pass a school bus unless the driver signals you to do so. negligent homicide if he or she negligently causes the death of another person. Do I remain stopped and get rear-ended on roadway or do I proceed slowly around bus from behind with caution. School bus stop arm violations can occur any time during the school year but they seem to be more frequent at the beginning of the school year and near the end as well. Stop arm is extended if the kid did need to cross in front of the bus. The same holds true in Ohio when a roadway has 4 lanes or more. Passing A School Bus It is illegal to pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended. Answer (1 of 10): The flashing yellow lights warn that the bus is about to stop for a pick up or drop off. However, children are more at risk when approaching or leaving a school bus. 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 Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. School bus drivers believing a motorist has unlawfully passed the stopped bus will, if possible, report the license plate number to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the area where the alleged violation occurred. A school bus operator shall activate flashing lights at least 100 feet before a stop is made to receive or discharge passengers. You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. Do not proceed until the flashing red lights stop. The yellow lights flashing on school bus meaning the bus is slowing down then stop.