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Montana driving lesson · Driving Rules

School buses and funeral processions

A 4-minute lesson from the Montana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
4 minutes
Course unit
Driving Rules
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
50, 51, 52

Montana has strict school bus rules and some unusual right-of-way rules for funeral processions. Both protect people who can't easily protect themselves.

Know the rule

When you meet or pass, from either direction, a school bus stopped with its red lights flashing, stop at least 30 feet from the bus and don't go until the red lights are turned off.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
30 ft

Minimum stopping distance from a school bus with flashing red lights

Handbook p. 50 ↗

Know the rule

If a bus is slowing to stop for passengers or is showing flashing yellow lights, slow down and proceed carefully — it's about to stop and children may be in the road.

Handbook p. 50 ↗

You don't need to stop for a bus that is

  • On a different road from yours
  • Stopped in an adjacent loading zone where pedestrians aren't allowed to cross the road
Handbook p. 50 ↗

Know the rule

When driving past a school, slow down and watch for children day and night — kids use the playground at all hours.

Handbook p. 51 ↗

Funeral procession

Two or more vehicles, including a funeral lead vehicle and a funeral escort vehicle, one carrying the remains of a deceased person, during daylight hours.

Handbook p. 52 ↗

If you're NOT part of the procession

  • Yield to procession vehicles led by a funeral lead or escort vehicle (pedestrians too)
  • Don't drive between procession vehicles in motion unless a police officer allows it
  • Don't join a procession to get its right-of-way
  • Don't pass it on its right on a multi-lane highway unless it's in the farthest left lane
  • Don't enter an intersection it's crossing on red unless you won't cross its path
Handbook p. 52 ↗

If you ARE in the procession

  • Follow the vehicle ahead as closely as possible — normal spacing rules don't apply
  • Once the lead vehicle proceeds, others may follow through signals, with reasonable care
  • Don't exceed 55 mph where the limit is 55 or more
  • Elsewhere, don't drive more than 5 mph below the posted limit
  • Turn on all headlights and taillights
  • First and last vehicles flash their turn signals together as warning lights
  • Yield to emergency vehicles giving an audible or visual signal
Handbook p. 52 ↗

Know the rule

The funeral lead vehicle must obey traffic control devices, right-of-way rules and local ordinances when it arrives at an intersection.

Handbook p. 52 ↗

Know the rule

Emergency vehicles may drive between procession vehicles. Nothing in these rules relieves any driver of the duty to drive with due regard for everyone's safety.

Handbook p. 52 ↗

Put it into practice

A school bus on the other side of an undivided two-lane road stops with red lights flashing. Stop at least 30 feet from the bus and wait until the red lights go off — even though you're going the other way.

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.

A school bus stopped on a two-lane road has its red lights flashing. How far away must you stop?
  1. At least 10 feet from the bus
  2. At least 50 feet from the bus
  3. At least 30 feet from the bus
  4. At least 100 feet from the bus

Answer: At least 30 feet from the bus

You must stop at least 30 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights and may not proceed until the lights turn off.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
When may you proceed after stopping for a school bus with flashing red lights?
  1. As soon as no children are visible
  2. When the bus driver waves you on
  3. Once the bus starts moving, even with lights on
  4. Once the red lights are turned off

Answer: Once the red lights are turned off

You must wait until the bus's red lights are turned off before proceeding, not just until the bus starts moving.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
A school bus ahead is displaying a flashing yellow light, not red. What does this mean?
  1. It's about to stop; slow down and caution
  2. You must stop 30 feet away as with red lights
  3. It is safe to pass at normal speed
  4. The bus has finished loading passengers

Answer: It's about to stop; slow down and caution

A flashing yellow light means the bus is about to stop; slow down and be prepared, since children may enter the road.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
You meet a school bus stopped with red lights flashing, but it is on a physically separate road from yours. Must you stop?
  1. Yes, you must always stop regardless of road separation
  2. No, not for a bus on a different road
  3. Only if you are within 100 feet
  4. Only during school pickup hours

Answer: No, not for a bus on a different road

You do not need to stop when meeting or passing a bus on a different road, or one stopped in an adjacent loading zone.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
What is the maximum speed a vehicle in a funeral procession may travel on a highway posted at 55 mph or more?
  1. 50 mph
  2. 60 mph
  3. 55 mph
  4. 65 mph

Answer: 55 mph

A funeral procession vehicle may not exceed 55 mph on a highway with a posted limit of 55 mph or more.

Handbook p. 52 ↗
A driver not part of a funeral procession wants to drive between vehicles in the moving procession. Is this allowed?
  1. Yes, at any time if space allows
  2. No, unless a police officer authorizes it
  3. Yes, but only at intersections
  4. No, it is never allowed under any circumstance

Answer: No, unless a police officer authorizes it

You may not drive between vehicles of a moving funeral procession unless authorized by police or you are in an emergency vehicle.

Handbook p. 52 ↗
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