District of Columbia driving lesson · Sharing the Road
School vehicles & motorcycles
A 3-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
School vehicles carry children who may cross in front of you, and motorcycles are small enough to disappear in your blind spot. Both need special care.
Know the rule
When a school vehicle is stopping or has stopped with its alternating flashing red lights on, all vehicles must stop at least 20 feet from its front or rear.
Almost half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve cars, and drivers often say they never saw the motorcycle. Check your blind spot frequently for passing motorcycles.
A motorcycle is entitled to use the entire lane, and the rider may move side to side within it to avoid obstacles. It is against the law to overtake or pass a motorcycle within the same lane.
On a two-lane road, a school vehicle ahead stops and starts its alternating flashing red lights. Stop at least 20 feet behind it and stay stopped until the lights go off. Then move ahead carefully, watching for children.
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.
When a school vehicle stops with alternating flashing red lights, how far away must other vehicles stop from the front or rear?
At least 5 feet
At least 50 feet
At least 10 feet
At least 20 feet
Answer: At least 20 feet
All vehicles must stop at least 20 feet from the front or rear of a stopped school vehicle with flashing red lights.