USA Bus Lines

Do i need to stop when a School bus stops?

If you are travelling down a 2 or 4 lane road with a divider or a large median between the lanes and a school bus stops on the opposite side are drivers required to stop.

Public Comments

1. well yes due to you are not sure which way the student is coming you better stop to be safe
2. You should but it is not required. With a bigger than 2 land road the bus driver is supposed to drop the students off on the right side of the bus so they don't have to cross traffic.
3. No you do not need to stop......
4. on a "divided highway", you usually do not need to stop. Check with your individual State Highway traffic rules. On an undivided highway or other road, you need to stop. Rhode Island motor vehicle law is: If red lights are flashing on the school bus, the law requires that motorists approaching from either direction come to a full stop and remain stopped until the bus’s red lights no longer flash. This requirement applies not only on public highways but also on private roads and in parking lots. A fine of up to $300 and/or suspension of your driver’s license for a period up to thirty (30) days will be imposed for the first violation of this law. Penalties increase for subsequent violations. 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. A divided highway is any roadway with a Jersey barrier, grass, guardrail, trees, water, etc. between the lanes of travel in opposite directions.
5. On a two lane road you must stop. The bus driver is required to extend the stop sign with flashers. On a four lane road with a median you are not required to stop as their is a separate within traffic. However, if your DMV handbook for that state states on a four lane highway for vehicle stoppage then you must. General rule for school bus services is that if the roadway is greater than 2 lanes the driver should do pickup on the side that the define pickup is for that route.
6. Yes because a young student might run out in front of you not knowing.
7. No, you don't have to stop if the bus is on the opposite side and there are more than 2 lanes of traffic. Buses can only stop one lane of traffic on a 2 lane road with one lane in each direction and with no divider. If there's more than 2 lanes or a median, you don't have to stop if the bus is on the other side going the opposite direction.
8. with a divider or a median, you dont have to stop. You only stop when there's no median/divider on hte road.
9. You do not have to stop.
10. NO, if there is a divider you don't need to stop. If there is NO DIVIDER then you have to stop.
11. In California, at least, you are not required to stop. In fact, if you do stop you could be cited for obstructing traffic. It is very dangerous for a vehicle to stop in a traffic lane for no legal reason.