Stop for a School Bus on a Divided Highway?

On an undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and its stop arm out. On a divided highway (one with a median or physical barrier between the directions), traffic on the other side usually does not have to stop, but traffic behind the bus always does.

The rule in pictures

The logic: children cross in front of the bus. On an undivided road, that crossing takes them into the lanes coming the other way. A real median keeps them out of those lanes.

Why the median matters

Children who get off a school bus usually cross the road in front of it. On an undivided road, that path takes them into the lanes where traffic is coming toward the bus. That is why drivers going both ways must stop. A real median, such as a grass strip, a concrete barrier or a raised divider, keeps children out of the far lanes and lets traffic on the other side keep moving. A painted line or a shared center turn lane is not a median in most states, so traffic both ways still stops.

When you do stop, stop well back, so children walking in front of or behind the bus can see you and you can see them. Many states set a minimum distance; your handbook gives the number.

Yellow lights and red lights

• Flashing yellow (amber) lights: the bus is about to stop. Slow down and get ready to stop.
• Flashing red lights and stop arm: stop, and stay stopped until the lights stop flashing and the arm folds, even if you don't see any children.

Remember too that the bus may stop where there is no official bus stop sign, on any road where children live. Expect it on rural roads in the early morning and mid-afternoon.

Practice it

Signal Lab asks you what to do when a bus stops going your way and coming toward you.

Rule and sources: school bus with flashing red lights.