A 3-minute lesson from the New York course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Most school bus deaths and injuries happen when children cross the street after leaving the bus, not in bus crashes. That is why New York requires every driver, from both directions, to stop for a school bus flashing its red lights.
Know the rule
Before a school bus stops to load or unload, the driver usually flashes yellow warning lights on the front and back near the roof. When you see them, slow down and prepare to stop.
When a stopped school bus flashes its red lights, traffic from either direction must stop before reaching it, even in front of the school and in school parking lots.
You can identify a school bus by its "SCHOOL BUS" sign, the red lights on top and its unique yellow-orange color. Vehicles for people with disabilities may be equipped as school buses; stop for them too.
Don't move again until the bus starts moving, or until the bus driver or a traffic officer signals you to go. This applies on all roadways in New York, even when the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway.
Since 2019, school districts and municipalities may use stop-arm cameras on buses to penalize the owners of vehicles that pass a bus stopped with red lights flashing to drop off or pick up passengers.
You're on a divided highway and a school bus is stopped across the median with red lights flashing. You must still stop, at least 20 feet away if you're approaching it. Wait until the bus moves or the driver or an officer waves you on, then drive slowly past.
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.
How far must you stop from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights?
At least 20 feet away
At least 5 feet away
At least 50 feet away
At least 10 feet away
Answer: At least 20 feet away
You should stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights.