School buses — Alabama Permit Test

When you follow or meet a school bus or church bus stopped on the road with its stop signal arm extended and red lights flashing, you must stop and remain stopped until the arm is retracted and the lights are off.

Children getting on and off may run across the road without looking.

Remain stopped until the stop signal is retracted and red lights are turned off.

Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying its stop signals.

Twenty feet leaves children room to cross in front of the bus where the driver can see them.

STOP AT LEAST 20 FEET FROM THE BUS.

Flashing amber lights on a school bus are a pre-warning that it is preparing to stop to load or unload children; in rural areas they are used at least 300 feet before stopping and in municipalities at least 100 feet.

The amber lights give you time to slow before the red lights and stop arm come out.

IN RURAL AREAS, THE LIGHTS ARE USED AT LEAST 300 FEET BEFORE STOPPING AND IN MUNICIPALITIES AT LEAST 100 FT.

Flashing red lights and an extended stop arm mean the bus is stopped to load or unload school children.

That is the moment children are in or near the road.

FLASHING RED LIGHTS AND EXTENDED STOP AREA MEANS THAT THE BUS IS STOPPED TO EITHER LOAD OR UNLOAD SCHOOL CHILDREN.

You should also stop when meeting or following a school or church bus stopped on a four to six lane undivided highway.

With no median, children crossing to the far side walk into every lane.

You should also stop when meeting or following a school or church bus which is stopped on a four to six lane undivided highway.

A stop is not required when meeting a school or church bus stopped in the opposing roadway of a divided highway of four or more lanes, or one stopped in a loading zone where pedestrians may not cross.

A median keeps children from crossing into the other roadway, so traffic there may pass.

A stop is not required on a divided highway having four or more lanes which permits at least two lanes of traffic to travel in opposite directions when meeting a school or church bus which is stopped in the opposing roadway or if the school or church bus is stopped in a loading zone which is a part of or adjacent to such highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.

Most children hurt or killed in pupil transportation are struck outside the bus, mostly by motorists who fail to stop for its flashing red lights and stop signs; the area around a stopped bus is called the Death Zone.

The danger is not riding the bus but getting on and off it, so the space around it is where drivers must stop.

This area around the stopped school bus is referred to as the “DEATH ZONE.”

A stopped school bus has its stop arm out and red lights flashing. How long must you stay stopped?

Until the arm folds in and the lights go off. Children getting on and off may run across the road without looking. Alabama Driver Manual, p.61: “Remain stopped until the stop signal is retracted and red lights are turned off.”