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The general School Bus Rule:Undivided Roads and Highways with Turning Lanes

If you are driving on an undivided road or highway with a turning lane (but no barriers or medians), the general rule is that if you are approaching a school bus that has stopped in the road, STOP! No matter which direction you are approaching the bus from, you MUST stop until at least one or more of the following things have occurred:

if you are approaching a school bus that has stopped in the road, no matter which direction you are approaching it from, you MUST stop until at least one or more of the following things have occurred:

1. The school bus resumes motion; or

2. You are signaled by the school bus driver to proceed; or

3. The visual signal used by the bus (usually blinking lights) is turned off.

This rule of thumb applies to all roads which don not have driving medians or barriers, and it applies no matter how many lanes the road has.

Now let us look at specific examples.

Two lanes.
2-way traffic.
No median or barrier.
Turning lane.

The situation:

The school bus is stopped in a 2-lane street or highway, with a turning lane.

The school bus rule:

If you approach a stopped school bus from any direction, you MUST stop until one or more of the following occurs:

1. The school bus resumes motion; or

2. You are signaled by the school bus driver to proceed; or

3. The visual signal used by the bus (usually blinking lights) is turned off.

Four lanes.
2-way traffic.
No median or barrier.
Turning lane.

The situation:

The school bus is stopped in a 4-lane street or highway, with a turning lane.

The school bus rule:

This is exactly the same as the rule above. If you approach a stopped school bus from any direction, you MUST stop until one or more of the following occurs:

1. The school bus resumes motion; or

2. You are signaled by the school bus driver to proceed; or

3. The visual signal used by the bus (usually blinking lights) is turned off.