USA Bus Lines

When a school bus stops behind the railroad track and drives to the right side of the lane...?

Okay, so I'm trying to prove my friend wrong. We had this argument, because the school bus moved to the side behind a railroad track. I was the driver here and he was on the passenger side (he doesn't have his drivers license yet and he failed 2 times on his driving test). So recently I was driving behind a school bus (not tailgating, just to let you know) when suddenly the school bus drove to the side and stopped behind the railroad track, there was no train coming or anything it just stopped to the side. So I stopped behind the school bus but not where the school bus was at then my friend yelled at me and told me to go around it. I told him that I wasn't suppose to go around or pass the school bus when it stops right in front of you. Now here, it was kind of confusing, the school bus didn't have flashing red lights but I still stopped behind it. Was I suppose to go around it? or wait until the school bus starts going? Who was right? OH! And if certain states have certain kind of rules, I live in California.

Public Comments

1. Bus drivers are required by law to stop before railroad tracks. It is possible the driver meant to let you go by, considering he moved to the side, but there is no guarantee that this was his intention. When in doubt I would wait for him to either proceed or to signal you to pass.
2. I agree with Bob, stop and wait....you can not see around the bus and its not worth your life to find out who is right !
3. The easiest answer is you're both right in a way. When a school bus stops to board or discharge children and the red light are flashing, you must stop and wait until the lights have been turned off before proceeding or going around the bus. However, when a school bus stops at a railroad crossing it is a different matter. You can pass and/or go around the school bus since it has stopped to as required by law to ensure a train isn't approaching. Since the bus wasn't boarding or discharging passengers and the red lights were not flashing, you are fine to proceed. Hope this clears it up.
4. I also agree with Roaddogg. School bus and you're correct. By the state law, all vehicles must stop at any railroad and lightrail crossing if there is no crossing gate or signal. They need to look, listen. If there is no trains approaching, they need to proceed carefully. Your friend is wrong because you could be in accident if train hit you. School Bus and other commercial vehicle operator have to open door, children must be remain silent, and bus operator listen carefully if s/he could hear the train horn. If not and it it is safe, s/he proceed school bus safety across the tracks. If tracks were near intersection, and there is no space for school bus, school bus have to wait until there's room for entire body of school bus.
5. you did the right thing because bus drivers have to stop at railroad tracks to watch for trains even if they dont hear anything. if you went around the bus, you could have been put in a danger zone. you should also remember that you have you lisence and you friend doesnt. i hope this helps good luck