A 3-minute lesson from the Delaware course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
School bus stops are where children are most exposed to traffic. Delaware requires you to stop from either direction for a bus loading or unloading children, with one narrow exception, and passing one brings fines, jail and suspension.
School bus
Every motor vehicle painted national school bus chrome yellow that displays the words 'SCHOOL BUS.'
Stop before reaching a school bus that is stopped to load or unload schoolchildren, from either direction. Exception: if you're on the opposite side of a highway with four or more lanes—and even then, proceed slowly.
Alternately flashing yellow lights (front and rear) mean the bus is about to stop: approach with caution and expect a stop. Children may be waiting or running to board.
Alternately flashing red lights and an extended stop arm mean the bus is picking up or dropping off. Don't proceed until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is retracted—then go cautiously.
If a police officer, school bus driver or crossing guard witnesses a violation and the driver isn't otherwise identified, the vehicle's registered owner is presumed to have committed it.
Red Clay Consolidated School District buses may carry stop-arm cameras: a $100 civil assessment for a first offense and $500 for each subsequent offense within 10 years. It isn't criminal, isn't on your driving record and isn't used for insurance.
On a two-lane road, a school bus coming toward you stops and swings out its stop arm. You must stop too, and stay stopped until the red lights go off and the arm folds back before continuing carefully.
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 a two-lane road, when must you stop for a school bus loading or unloading children?
Only when approaching from behind the bus
Only when the bus is on your side of the road
Only during school hours
From either direction
Answer: From either direction
You must always stop before reaching a school bus stopped to load or unload children, from either direction, unless you are on the opposite side of a highway with four or more lanes.