A 3-minute lesson from the South Dakota course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Two situations come with firm rules: school buses loading children, and where and how you leave your car. On a hill, the direction of your wheels decides where a rolling car goes.
Know the rule
Always stop for a school bus with red lights flashing or its stop arm extended, unless the roadway is separated by a physical barrier.
Park in a designated area when possible, as far from traffic as you can, and as close to the curb as possible if there is one, where you're visible from both directions.
Always set the parking brake and leave the vehicle in park (automatic) or lowest gear (manual). In cold weather you may leave the parking brake off if it could freeze in the "on" position.
Get out on the curb side if possible; if not, check traffic before opening the street-side door and shut it quickly. Never leave the key in a parked vehicle, and lock the doors.
Then set the emergency brake and shift to park; with a manual, use reverse facing downhill or the lowest gear facing uphill. If the vehicle rolls, it rolls away from traffic.
Uphill with a curb: wheels turned leftDownhill: wheels turned right
Put it into practice
You park facing uphill next to a curb. Turn the front wheels sharply left, set the parking brake, and shift to park. If the car ever rolled back, the tire would catch against the curb instead of rolling into traffic.
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 must you stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing or stop arm extended?
Only if you are behind the bus
Only if children are visible outside the bus
Only on two-lane roads
Always, unless a physical barrier divides the road
Answer: Always, unless a physical barrier divides the road
You must always stop for a school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop arm, unless separated by a physical barrier.
