Stopping for school vehicles — District of Columbia Permit Test

When a school vehicle is stopping or stopped with its alternating flashing red lights on, all vehicles must stop at least 20 feet from its front or rear.

Children getting on or off may cross in front of or behind the bus, and the gap gives you room to see them.

When a school vehicle is stopping or has stopped on the roadway, and is operating the alternating flashing red lights, all vehicles must stop at least 20 feet from the front or rear of the school vehicle.

No one may proceed past a stopped school vehicle until its alternating flashing red lights have been turned off, and drivers should keep using caution afterward.

The red lights mean children may still be crossing, and the last one may still be in the street when the lights go off.

No one can proceed until the alternating flashing red lights have been turned off.

You are not required to stop for a school vehicle when you are on a divided highway and it is on the other side of the divided highway.

Children do not cross a divided highway from that bus, so drivers on the far side are not in their path.

Drivers of other vehicles are not required to stop when they are on a divided highway and the school vehicle is on the other side of the divided highway.

How far from a stopped school vehicle with flashing red lights must you stop?

At least 20 feet. Children getting on or off may cross in front of or behind the bus, and the gap gives you room to see them. DC Driver Manual, p.66: “When a school vehicle is stopping or has stopped on the roadway, and is operating the alternating flashing red lights, all vehicles must stop at least 20 feet from the front or rear of the school vehicle.”