The School Bus, the Child, and the Tailgater
7:45 a.m. on a two-lane rural road with a double yellow center line. The school bus ahead of you in your lane has stopped, red lights flashing and stop arm extended. A child stands on the opposite shoulder, waiting to cross to the bus. Behind you, a pickup has been tailgating for a mile and has already edged toward the center line. In the oncoming lane, a cyclist is riding toward the bus. There is no median or barrier between the directions - only the painted double yellow. You are already late for work, and the road is straight with long sight distance.
1. Must you stop, and what releases you?
Read the worked answer
Yes - and only the bus's signals release you, not the driver's wave.
- On an undivided roadway like this one, where the only separation is a painted line, traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. The double yellow changes nothing.
- Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm retracts. A hand wave from the driver is a courtesy, not a clearance - the child's path and the other children around the bus must be clear first.
- Expect the child to cross in front of the bus, where the driver's view and yours are both worst. Do not creep forward to 'get a look.'
- Being late for work has no effect on the duty to stop.
2. Does the oncoming cyclist have to stop, and how should that change what you do?
Read the worked answer
Legally the cyclist must stop too; practically you must assume they may not.
- The same undivided-roadway rule applies to oncoming traffic, cyclists included. But a cyclist may not recognize the bus as a stop signal, may be focused on the shoulder, or may swing wide around the stopped bus.
- A cyclist swerving around the bus can end up in your lane or in the child's path. So when the bus releases you, scan the oncoming lane and the opposite shoulder before moving, not just the area in front of your bumper.
- Proceed slowly and be ready to stop again; the first few seconds after the lights go off are when children do unpredictable things.
3. The pickup behind you is tailgating and you are late. How do you manage the stop?
Read the worked answer
Stop smoothly and early, and do not try to help the tailgater.
- Begin braking sooner than you otherwise would and tap the brake pedal first, so the driver behind gets a clear, early signal. A late, hard stop with a tailgater invites a rear-end collision that could push you past the bus.
- Do not wave the pickup around. You would be inviting a pass into the path of a child crossing to the bus, and you would be participating in the violation.
- Do not shorten your stop or pull to the shoulder to 'make room' - the required stop applies to you in your lane.
- If the pickup passes illegally, hold your position, do not react, and note the plate and description once you are moving again.