Can a school bus stop four lanes of traffic?
Say there I’m driving south on a four lane road. A school bus in driving north on that same four lane road. The bus stops to let children off down the road in front of me. Do I have to stop?
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15 Answers
Seems like it would be a good idea. Is there a rush?
No. It would be stupid idea that would hold up traffic. The children aren’t allowed cross the four lane highway, why can’t I just slow down?
Kids do a lot of dumb shit. Isn’t it worth inconveniencing yourself for a few seconds to possibly save a life?
What are you talking about?!
I’m just trying to figure if it law or not.
If the highway is divided with a median, you don’t have to stop. Kids are, in fact, allowed to cross the street in front of the bus. Otherwise, why have a stop sign at all?
No I don’t think they are allowed to cross in front of the bus on a four lane highway.
Kevbro nailed it! He also beat me to the punch!
Well, if you’re the expert, why are you asking?
State and local laws vary. Call the non-emergency number for the police station and ask.
From the CA DMV
If the school bus is on the other side of a divided or multilane (two or more lanes in each direction) highway, you do not need to stop.
From AFT
For New Jersey: On highways with separate roadways separated by safety islands or physical traffic separation installations, a vehicle driver on another roadway approaching a stopped school bus getting on or off any child, must slow to 10 miles per hour and not resume normal speed until the vehicle has passed the bus and any child who may have alighted therefrom or be about to enter said bus.
Thanks, Marina. I guess I stand corrected then. My apologies, Simone.
Just to be clear though: if we’re talking about a four lane road without a divider (two lanes running one way, two the other, no median), and a school bus stops and puts out its stop sign, then, yes, you must stop, regardless of the lane that you are driving in.
Edit: State laws may vary, but this is the general rule.
Different states have differing laws. Illinois and Colorado, the two states I’m most familiar with, seem to agree that if the two lanes in each direction are divided by a median, the opposing traffic does not have to stop. If the separation is only by lane markers, then ALL traffic must stop.
The law only applies to four lanes that are connected, not separated with a medium.
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