school bus traffic law question

[rh71]

On a daily basis I am driving near school buses when I go pick my kids up and I've done this a few times without really being sure if it's legal. Obviously you should never pass a bus when the red lights are flashing, but can you make the turns as marked in blue here when the lights are flashing? The law seems to only mention passing.

(ms paint rules)

 

[highland145]

Yes, you aren't passing the bus. ymmv.

Could try this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1UTM40K53K8#t=7s

 

[olds]

I am going with, no effing way.

 

[Baked]

Time stops when the yellow bus lights flash.

 

[JTsyo]

I would say the spirit of the law says no. The point is to stop traffic so kids can safely cross the street. When picking up kids they will probably wait where the bus stops but there might be ones that are late and running for the bus. When they are being dropped off, then you can expect them to cross both streets.

 

[zinfamous]

I am going with, no effing way.

this.

Just don't do it. ever.

 

[mvbighead]

I'd say that is pretty gray. The stop sign on the bus is aimed at on coming traffic, so that children can get to the opposite side of the road as where the bus is headed. The street you are looking at is perpendicular, and so long as there is "enough" distance between the bus and the intersection, it should be reasonably safe for you to turn there.

What is enough? I dunno, 100 ft?

 

[sixone]

Legally: probably, but IANAL.

Is it a smart thing to do? No. It will only cost you a couple of minutes waiting for the bus and traffic to pass. Why take the risk?

 

[highland145]

When a stopped school bus flashes its red light(s), traffic approaching from either direction, even in front of the school and in school parking lots, must stop before reaching the bus. You should stop at least 20 feet (6 m) away from the bus. You can identify this bus by a "SCHOOL BUS" sign, the red lights on top, and its unique yellow/orange color.

N.Y. drivers book.

20 feet.

http://www.dmv.ny.gov/dmanual/chapter06-manual.htm

 

[spidey07]

No. Stop on school buses means STOP and stay stopped right where you are if you are within a certain distance of the bus (state dependent). It is not to be treated as a stop sign.

 

[Jimzz]

N.Y. drivers book.

20 feet.

http://www.dmv.ny.gov/dmanual/chapter06-manual.htm

I think I was told 25 or 50feet when I took drivers ed, now that was 20ish years ago.

Guess each state may be differant or teachers added extra since then knew most would cut that number in the real world.

 

[rh71]

~2 car lengths... good to know. Still borderline when making that right but I'll stop anyway.

 

[vshah]

pretty clear in pennsylvania. you must stop.

 

[ndmrpwr]

I live right on an intersection like this. There is a crosswalk here with a crossing guard. People are allowed to turn left on the side street and right onto the main street as the traffic guard indicates to do so.

 

[highland145]

I live right on an intersection like this. There is a crosswalk here with a crossing guard. People are allowed to turn left on the side street and right onto the main street as the traffic guard indicates to do so.

.01 PPD

Mine.

 

[CA19100]

On a related note, here in the state of Washington, we have an interesting law: On a road with three or more lanes (and that includes a shared turn lane), traffic in the opposite direction does not have to stop! Apparently few people around here bothered to read the law, because they stop anyway and honk at me as I go by, but that's what it says. Our state law requires bus routes be planned so children will not cross more than two lanes, therefore, on a road >2 lanes wide, there won't be any kids crossing anyway. Kids are safer, and traffic isn't bungled up any more than necessary. It's nice!

 

[JTsyo]

On a related note, here in the state of Washington, we have an interesting law: On a road with three or more lanes (and that includes a shared turn lane), traffic in the opposite direction does not have to stop! Apparently few people around here bothered to read the law, because they stop anyway and honk at me as I go by, but that's what it says. Our state law requires bus routes be planned so children will not cross more than two lanes, therefore, on a road >2 lanes wide, there won't be any kids crossing anyway. Kids are safer, and traffic isn't bungled up any more than necessary. It's nice!

Yea, you don't want kids crossing busy roads, even with a stopped school bus.

 

[olds]

On a related note, here in the state of Washington, we have an interesting law: On a road with three or more lanes (and that includes a shared turn lane), traffic in the opposite direction does not have to stop! Apparently few people around here bothered to read the law, because they stop anyway and honk at me as I go by, but that's what it says. Our state law requires bus routes be planned so children will not cross more than two lanes, therefore, on a road >2 lanes wide, there won't be any kids crossing anyway. Kids are safer, and traffic isn't bungled up any more than necessary. It's nice!

We have a similar law in California. "The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway or multiple-lane highway need not stop upon meeting or passing a schoolbus that is upon the other roadway."
"a multiple-lane highway is any highway that has two or more lanes of travel in each direction."

I bet most people and most cops aren't aware of the "multiple-lane" rule.

 

[T9D]

Oh course you should stop. The kids are going to cross that road to go home. If they step off the bus to cross the street and you zoom right by that's definitely dangerous.