A 3-minute lesson from the Alaska course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
When a school bus stops with red lights flashing, children may cross the road in front of it. Traffic in both directions must stop, with one exception for divided highways.
When a school bus stops with red lights flashing, both vehicles must stop
Know the rule
Coming up behind a school bus with red lights flashing, you may not pass. Stop completely before reaching the stopped bus.
Meeting a bus with yellow/amber lights flashing: slow down, and stop when it stops with red lights flashing and stop sign out. Stay stopped until the sign is retracted and red lights go off, then proceed with caution.
Exception: on a highway with separated roadways and two or more lanes in each direction, you need not stop for a school bus headed the opposite way, even if it's stopped with red lights and stop arm out.
By day, the SMV's fluorescent orange triangle is visible from more than one-fifth mile away. At night, its reflective red border glows in headlights, and the hollow red triangle identifies a slow-moving vehicle.
On a two-lane road, a school bus coming toward you stops and turns on its red lights. You must stop too. If you were on a divided highway with two lanes each way, you could keep going.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
On an undivided two-lane road, what must drivers do when meeting or following a school bus with red lights flashing and the stop arm extended?
Come to a complete stop
Slow down and proceed with caution
Stop only if following, not meeting
Only stop if children are visible
Answer: Come to a complete stop
Both meeting and following drivers must come to a complete stop.
