School buses, emergency vehicles and the Move Over law
A 4-minute lesson from the Pennsylvania course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Pennsylvania has strict stopping rules for school buses and clear duties when emergency vehicles or roadside responders are near. The penalties are steep, and the exceptions are narrow, so learn them exactly.
Know the rule
When a school bus is preparing to stop, its amber (yellow) lights begin flashing.
Stop at least this far from a school bus with red lights flashing and stop arm extended, whether behind it, meeting it, or at an intersection where it's stopped
Vehicles stopped at least 10 feet from a school bus
Know the rule
The only exception: you're on the opposite side of a divided highway (concrete or metal barriers, guide rails, or a median of trees, rocks, streams or grass). Reduce speed and continue with caution.
Where police, fire, EMS, coroners, towing and recovery, hazmat teams or highway construction and maintenance crews are providing services on or near the road.
Move Over law: move into a lane not adjacent to the emergency response area or disabled vehicle. If you can't, slow to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit. A conviction adds 2 points; responders may report violators.
On a four-lane road you approach a stopped school bus with red lights flashing on the other side, and only a painted double yellow line separates you. That's not a divided highway, so you must stop at least 10 feet away.
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 bus stops with red lights flashing and its stop arm extended, how far away must you stop?
At least 10 feet away
At least 5 feet away
At least 25 feet away
At least 50 feet away
Answer: At least 10 feet away
You must stop at least 10 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights and extended stop arm.
