Right-of-Way Rules for School Buses: Laws, Penalties and Exceptions

Updated Oct. 20, 2020

Each year around the United States, more than 100 children are killed in school zone collisions. That figure is significantly greater when we include children killed as a result of any collision involving a school bus and at least one other vehicle. Motorists have a responsibility to drive cautiously around school buses, whether the school bus has stopped by the roadside or is moving. The law in most states requires drivers to stop for stopped school buses which are displaying a “STOP” arm or flashing lights. We discuss this essential right-of-way rule on this page.

School bus right-of-way laws
Right-of-way on divided highways
School bus right-of-way violations

Whenever you are driving in a school zone or near a school bus, you must keep speed to a minimum, pay attention to the roadway and be prepared to yield the right-of-way.

School bus right-of-way laws

The traffic laws in most states stipulate that all motorists must stop for any stopped school bus transporting children – this applies to vehicles traveling in both directions (unless traveling on the other side of a divided highway, as discussed in the next section). This law usually includes a minimum safe distance away from the school bus you must stop. For example:

In Pennsylvania, drivers must stop at least 10 feet away.
In Colorado, drivers must stop at least 20 feet away.
In New Jersey, drivers must stop at least 25 feet away.

The penalties for violating this right-of-way law are strict, so be sure to check out the required stopping distance in your state using the official driver’s handbook.

School buses generally feature warning devices to let other motorists know when they may not pass. When a moving school bus displays flashing yellow lights, this usually means they are preparing to stop to load or unload children. Slow down and be prepared to stop if you see a school bus displaying this signal.

To attract attention, most school buses display flashing amber or red lights, or a lowered “STOP” arm when stopped. You must stop your vehicle at the minimum required distance when approaching a school bus using these warning devices. Remain stopped until the warning devices are deactivated and continue to yield the right-of-way, by allowing the school bus to pull off first. While still stopped, the school bus may obscure children who are waiting to cross the street.

Right-of-way on divided highways

The right-of-way laws in most states do not require drivers to stop for a stopped school bus, if they are traveling along the opposite side of a divided highway. Divided highways separate opposing lanes of traffic with a central barrier or raised median.

You must look for locally relevant information on this right-of-way rule in your state’s own handbook, as there are some exceptions. Presently, drivers in New York, Mississippi and West Virginia are required to stop, even when moving in the opposite direction on a divided highway. In Arkansas, motorists must stop if the central barrier or median is less than 20 feet wide.

It is not necessary to stop for a stopped school bus in any state, when traveling on the opposite side of a controlled-access road where pedestrians are not permitted to cross.

School bus right-of-way violations

Your state’s driving manual will list the penalties which may be incurred by violating school bus right-of-way rules. Depending on the number of times an offense has been committed and whether any injury was caused, drivers failing to stop for a stopped school bus may be subject to one or all the below penalties:

1
A fine
2
Points added to their driving record
3
License suspension

You can learn more about the penalties incurred by failing to stop for a school bus in the “Sharing the Road with Buses” article.

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Right-of-Way at Railroad Crossings

Failure to observe proper right-of-way rules around railroad crossings can result in devastating collisions and loss of life. Trains always have right-of-way over road vehicles at railway crossings – there are no exceptions. As a motorist, you must yield the right-of-way or risk paying for the violation with your life.

Passing & Being Passed 1 of 3

Passing Others Safely

Passing another vehicle will always temporarily increase the risk you are exposed to at any given time on a stretch of roadway. Remember that most situations require passing on the left-hand side of the vehicle in front. Passing on the right is permitted only in certain rare circumstances.

Situations when passing other vehicles is allowed

Passing & Being Passed 2 of 3

When Passing is Legal

While on a two-way road with one lane of traffic moving in each direction, motorists may only pass another vehicle by merging left into the opposing lane of traffic. In most states, passing another vehicle on the right is prohibited except under certain conditions.

Review

Right of Way Rules 2 of 9

Right-of-Way at Intersections

Drivers using an intersection must rely on right-of-way laws to determine who goes first. To choose a safe path through an intersection, motorists must understand right-of-way rules and learn to accurately judge the speed and location of other vehicles.

Right of Way Rules 3 of 9

Right-of-Way for Pedestrians

Conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians must be avoided at all costs. Remember that you must always yield to pedestrians on the roadway, even if you believe the lawful right-of-way is yours.

Right of Way Rules 4 of 9

Right-of-Way at Crosswalks

Pedestrian safety at crosswalks depends on motorists respecting their right-of-way, but that’s not where your responsibility as a driver ends. Remember that many pedestrians do not have the same knowledge of right-of-way laws as drivers. You must always stop for pedestrians crossing the road. This applies to unmarked crosswalks, marked crosswalks, crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections, mid-block crosswalks and crosswalks at intersections which are controlled by traffic lights.

Right of Way Rules 5 of 9

Right-of-Way at Roundabouts

Right-of-way conflicts are less common on roundabouts than they are at other intersections, as all traffic is moving in a counterclockwise direction and there are no left turns. The golden rule when it comes to roundabouts is that traffic approaching the intersection must yield the right-of-way to traffic already circling the center island.

Right of Way Rules 6 of 9

Right-of-Way on Mountain Roads

Right-of-way rules help drivers to avoid conflict on all our nation’s roadways, even lesser-traveled mountain roads. Mountain driving can be treacherous and does require some extra consideration. As a result, there are a couple of additional right-of-way rules to learn which relate specifically to mountain and hill driving.

Right of Way Rules 7 of 9

Right-of-Way for Emergency Vehicles

The law states that emergency response vehicles should have right-of-way over all other road users, when sounding a siren or displaying flashing lights. In most cases, police cars, ambulances and fire engines will use both these devices to warn other motorists that they must yield.