School bus flashing red — Rhode Island Permit Test

When a school bus has its red lights flashing, motorists approaching from either direction must come to a full stop and stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing.

A child crossing in front of the bus steps into the lane of a car that kept rolling.

If red lights are flashing on the school bus, Rhode Island requires that motorists approaching from either direction come to a full stop and remain stopped until the bus’s red lights no longer flash.

The school-bus stop rule applies not only on public highways but also on private roads and in parking lots.

A driver who thinks a parking lot is exempt rolls past children leaving a bus at a school entrance.

This requirement applies not only on public highways but also on private roads and in parking lots.

You do not have to stop for a school bus's flashing red lights when the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway.

Children are not crossing a median, so stopping traffic on the far side only invites rear-end crashes.

Motorists do not have to stop for the flashing red lights of the school bus when the bus is opposite your vehicle on a divided highway.

For the school-bus rule, a divided highway is any road with a Jersey barrier, guardrail, grass or cement median, trees or water between the opposite lanes.

A driver who treats a painted center line as a divider drives past children crossing the road.

A divided highway is any roadway with a Jersey barrier, guardrail, grass or cement median, trees, water, etc. between the lanes of travel in opposite directions.

A first violation of the school-bus stop law brings a fine of $250 to $500.

A small fine would not stop drivers in a hurry from passing a bus full of children.

A fine between $250 to $500 and/or suspension of your driver’s license for a period up to thirty (30) days will be imposed for the first violation of this law.

A first violation of the school-bus stop law can also bring a license suspension of up to 30 days, and penalties increase for later violations.

Losing the right to drive is what makes a repeat school-bus violator stop passing buses.

A fine between $250 to $500 and/or suspension of your driver’s license for a period up to thirty (30) days will be imposed for the first violation of this law.

A school bus ahead has its red lights flashing. How long must you stay stopped?

Until its red lights stop flashing. A child crossing in front of the bus steps into the lane of a car that kept rolling. Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.54: “If red lights are flashing on the school bus, Rhode Island requires that motorists approaching from either direction come to a full stop and remain stopped until the bus’s red lights no longer flash.”