When are you required to stop for a school bus?

You are required to stop for a school bus when it has its stop sign extended and red lights flashing. This law exists to ensure the safety of children getting on and off the bus. The extended stop sign and flashing lights are universally recognized signals that indicate it is unsafe to proceed as children may be crossing the street to board the bus or exiting the bus to go home.

When you see these signals, it is legally required to stop, regardless of the direction you are coming from—this includes oncoming traffic as well as vehicles following behind the bus. Stopping in this situation significantly reduces the risk of accidents involving children and reinforces the importance of cautious driving in school zones.

While there are circumstances under which a vehicle might not have to stop, such as when the bus is not displaying these signals or when the roadway is divided, the presence of flashing lights and the extended stop sign is an unequivocal indication to stop.