Sharing the road
A school bus ahead of you on a two-lane road has stopped and its red lights are flashing. What must you do?
- Stop, from either direction, and remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing. Correct answer
- Slow to 25 mph and pass the bus with caution.
- Stop only if you are traveling in the same direction as the bus.
Why
Flashing red lights on a school bus mean children are getting on or off and may cross the street. On a two-lane road you must stop whether you are behind the bus or coming toward it, and you stay stopped until the children are safely across and the red lights stop flashing. Yellow flashing lights are the warning stage: slow down and prepare to stop. The only exception is when the bus is on the other side of a divided highway or a multilane highway with two or more lanes in each direction; then you do not need to stop. Passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing can cost you a fine of up to $1,000 and a one-year suspension of your driving privilege.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, DL 600 ENGLISH (REV. 6/2025). The correct answer is Stop, from either direction, and remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing..