USA Bus Lines

Can you pass a stopped school bus if there's a median in between?

Ok, so a bus is stopped, going the opposite direction your road leads to. There is a median in between the bus and your side of the road, do you have to stop or is it safe to go? I live in Texas. I knew this would sound kind of confusing, so I drew a diagram. The QUESTION MARK ("?") is the vehicle in question. Is it lawful for it to continue and not stop when there is a median in between (and yes, I know you have to stop when there is NO median in between)? This is a question for drivers in the UNITED STATES only. http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/5482/go9oh.png Oh, and please don't give me a "I think" or an "I guess" answer. I don't want to second guess myself and end up with a ticket.

Public Comments

1. I am a School bus driver in Virginia. If there is a divided highway (Grassy median) in the middle of the highway and you are on the opposite side of the highway from the stopped school bus then you do not stop. Where it gets tricky is if the median is a narrow concrete type with pedestrians crossing over. If you are sure then stop with your hazards on. Children should never cross a divided highway. Vehicles travel too fast to see and or react to a small child in the road. Hope this helps!
2. From page 4-7 of the Texas driver's handbook: Drive with care when you near a school bus. If you approach a school bus from either direction and the bus is displaying alternately flashing red lights, you must stop and not pass until (1) the school bus has resumed motion, or (2) you are signaled by the driver to proceed, or (3) the red lights are no longer flashing. You need not stop when meeting or passing a school bus which is (1) on a different roadway, or (2) upon a controlled-access highway where the school bus is stopped in a loading zone and pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway. Based on your description above, I think you're safe.
3. I'm a Connecticut school bus driver. In Connecticut, you do NOT have to stop, but you DO have to pass with caution (slow down, be aware, etc. Sometimes kids'll run across divided highways).
4. for the above situation in ohio, only the traffic that is going in the same direction as the bus is required to stop. those on the other side is not required to stop. only time all traffic is required to stop with the bus is on 2 lane roads. in ohio, if the road is 2 lanes in each direction with a turn only lane, only the 2 lanes that is on the side of the bus is required to stop.