School buses — North Carolina Permit Test

When a school bus displays its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights to pick up or drop off passengers, any vehicle approaching it must stop and not pass until the stop signal is withdrawn, the lights are off and the bus has started to move.

Children cross in front of and behind the bus while it is stopped. The lights stay on until the last one is clear.

When a school bus displays its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights to receive or discharge passengers, the driver of any other vehicle approaching the school bus must stop and not attempt to pass the school bus until the mechanical stop signal is withdrawn, the flashing red lights are turned off and the bus has started to move.

The maximum speed limit for a school bus is 45 mph.

A bus full of standing children is slow to stop. The lower limit gives its driver the extra distance.

The maximum speed limit for a school bus is 45 mph.

School buses generally operate from 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., and children at a bus stop may run into the street unexpectedly even when no bus is in sight.

A child waiting for a bus is thinking about the bus, not about you. The stop is dangerous before the bus ever arrives.

Even when the school bus is not in sight, children at a bus stop sometimes will run into the street unexpectedly.

On a two-lane road, or a two-lane road with a center turning lane, all traffic from both directions must stop for a stopped school bus.

A turning lane is not a divider. Children can cross it, so both directions wait.

Two-lane roadway with a center turning lane: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.

On a four-lane road without a median separation, all traffic from both directions must stop for a stopped school bus.

Four lanes with nothing between them is one road. A child can cross all of it, so all of it stops.

Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.

On a divided highway of four or more lanes with a median separation, only traffic following the bus must stop.

A median keeps children from crossing to the far side. The traffic over there keeps moving.

Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.

On a road of four or more lanes with a center turning lane, only traffic following the bus must stop.

With four lanes and a turning lane, the road is wide enough that the far side is treated as separate. The bus’s own side stops.

Roadway of four lanes or more with a center turning lane: When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.

A school bus ahead has its stop arm out and red lights flashing. When may you pass it?

When the arm is in, the lights are off and the bus is moving. Children cross in front of and behind the bus while it is stopped. The lights stay on until the last one is clear. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.47: “When a school bus displays its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights to receive or discharge passengers, the driver of any other vehicle approaching the school bus must stop and not attempt to pass the school bus until the mechanical stop signal is withdrawn, the flashing red lights are turned off and the bus has started to move.”