School bus - do I need to stop

[Anonymous]

Let’s say a school bus is traveling from west to east and stops west of my car. I am driving north on perpendicular street and plan to turn east on same road as the bus is on. Do I have to stop if the school bus lights are on and kids are getting on/off?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Only exception if bus is on opposite side of a highway with a median. There is no exception for "But I wasn't going that way anyway."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Only exception if bus is on opposite side of a highway with a median. There is no exception for "But I wasn't going that way anyway."

So at what point do I not need to stop? The bus stops within sight of me but is about 100 ft from the point where I am (and I am turning right away from the bus)?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think you have to, but i always do. Happens once or twice a week on my regular commute. I’ve had assholes pass me at the stop sign, blare their horns, flip me off. F’em.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you have to, but i always do. Happens once or twice a week on my regular commute. I’ve had assholes pass me at the stop sign, blare their horns, flip me off. F’em.

That is what happened today. I think I actually do not have to stop, as the bus is not yet to my street (stops well before it) and I am driving the other way.

[Anonymous]

I would stop. It's too important to make sure the kids get off safely.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you have to, but there is a danger that a kid will cross the street you're on to get to/from the bus, so watch for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you have to, but there is a danger that a kid will cross the street you're on to get to/from the bus, so watch for that.

Not in this scenario. The kids load and unload way to the left of where my car is. The bus drives up from far left to slightly closer left. I am coming from bottom and planning on turning right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you have to, but there is a danger that a kid will cross the street you're on to get to/from the bus, so watch for that.

Not in this scenario. The kids load and unload way to the left of where my car is. The bus drives up from far left to slightly closer left. I am coming from bottom and planning on turning right.

How close is the bus to the intersection?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you have to, but there is a danger that a kid will cross the street you're on to get to/from the bus, so watch for that.

Not in this scenario. The kids load and unload way to the left of where my car is. The bus drives up from far left to slightly closer left. I am coming from bottom and planning on turning right.

How close is the bus to the intersection?

Maybe 2-3 bus lengths?

[Anonymous]

I would yes. Not sure what the law is altho I suspect you legally don't have, but its what 1 minute a day out of your life? Not even that long probably. I would stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you have to, but there is a danger that a kid will cross the street you're on to get to/from the bus, so watch for that.

Not in this scenario. The kids load and unload way to the left of where my car is. The bus drives up from far left to slightly closer left. I am coming from bottom and planning on turning right.

How close is the bus to the intersection?

Maybe 2-3 bus lengths?

Yes. You should stop. Children may be crossing the road you are on.

It is a stop sign/stop light/circle?

[Anonymous]

The law does not obligate you to stop. I had to draw myself a little schematic in my mind, but there is no time where you are near the bus, at all, since you are in the right lane, and the bus is your left. Of course be careful to let kiddie pedestrians cross.

[Anonymous]

I wrote that you do need to stop, but I've changed my mind. I think you are fine not to stop (because you are not passing the bus) but kids can still be running to/from the bus in front of you, so it would be fine to stop if you felt that was the safer course of action.

[Anonymous]

I always take the conservative approach when it comes to school busses. If I even think there is a chance I should need to stop, I stop.
Not only can you have a tragic accident, busses have camera's now and it's (I think) a misdemeanor and a major fine not to stop for a school bus.