School buses — Vermont Permit Test

It is against the law to pass a school bus which has stopped and has its red warning lights on. Never pass from any direction when the red lights are on.

Children cross the road in front of the bus, and the driver passing it cannot see them until they are out.

It is against the law to pass a school bus which has stopped and has its red warning lights on. Never pass from any direction when the red lights are on.

A school bus about to pick up or drop off students switches on its alternately flashing yellow lights and begins slowing down. You should be preparing to stop.

The yellow lights are your warning, and using them to get past is how drivers end up alongside the red ones.

the school bus driver activates the alternately flashing yellow lights and begins slowing down. You should be preparing to stop

Once the bus has stopped and the alternately flashing red warning lights are on, you must stop your vehicle. This applies even in a school yard.

A school yard feels like private ground, and the children crossing there are the same children.

Remember, even in a school yard, you must not pass a stopped school bus with its alternately flashing red warning lights activated.

You do not have to stop on a divided highway if the school bus is traveling in the opposite direction, and a concrete barrier separating the traffic from the bus also removes the duty to stop.

A median or barrier means no child is going to walk across your lanes to reach the bus.

You do not have to stop on a divided highway if the school bus is traveling in the opposite direction.

In Vermont, being found guilty of passing a stopped school bus with its warning lights on brings a substantial fine and five points on your license.

Five points is half of what it takes to lose the license altogether, from one pass.

if you are found guilty of passing a stopped school bus with its warning lights on, you will be subject to a substantial fine and five points on your driver’s license

When is it against the law to pass a stopped school bus?

Whenever its red warning lights are on. Children cross the road in front of the bus, and the driver passing it cannot see them until they are out. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.39: “It is against the law to pass a school bus which has stopped and has its red warning lights on. Never pass from any direction when the red lights are on.”