School buses

[afjess1989]

When the school bus is pulled onto the shoulder and turns on it's red lights on dont you have to stop if you're on the road.

Example going north on 235 bus pulls onto the shoulder to let a child off. turns on the red flashing lights. dont you have to stop?

 

[kwillia]

If the red lights are on you MUST stop. Period.

 

[ZARA]

When the school bus is pulled onto the shoulder and turns on it's red lights on dont you have to stop if you're on the road.

Example going north on 235 bus pulls onto the shoulder to let a child off. turns on the red flashing lights. dont you have to stop?

Yes. Any time a school bus is stopped with the sign out and lights on, both sides of traffic must stop unless there is a cement median dividing the road and then only traffic on the same side as the bus must stop.

This is the law for all states unless there has been recent changes in the past couple of years that I am unaware of.

 

[sm8]

Or a grass median dividing the road.

 

[BadGirl]

When the school bus is pulled onto the shoulder and turns on it's red lights on dont you have to stop if you're on the road.

Example going north on 235 bus pulls onto the shoulder to let a child off. turns on the red flashing lights. dont you have to stop?

Yes, you do. I didn't do that recently, and I was scared that I would get caught.

But to my credit, the bus driver didn't turn on the red light until I was right on the bus.....it hadn't turned on the yellow lights at all.....which is why I was confused as to whether or not I should proceed. I scooted by, and mid-way past the bus is when he turned on the red lights. That scared the crap outta me.

 

[afjess1989]

Well a Certain drivers Ed Company in St. Mary's told my sister otherwise. I was in the truck with her and she didn't stop and I was like you are suppose to stop she said Drivers and teacher told her otherwise.

 

[drivingdaisy]

Yes, you do. I didn't do that recently, and I was scared that I would get caught.

But to my credit, the bus driver didn't turn on the red light until I was right on the bus.....it hadn't turned on the yellow lights at all.....which is why I was confused as to whether or not I should proceed. I scooted by, and mid-way past the bus is when he turned on the red lights. That scared the crap outta me.

I think sometimes the bus drivers are trying to be nice and let some traffic by before they cause it to stop.

 

[PsyOps]

Well a Certain drivers Ed Company in St. Mary's told my sister otherwise. I was in the truck with her and she didn't stop and I was like you are suppose to stop she said Drivers and teacher told her otherwise.

That driver's ed teacher needs to be fired.

Traffic Safety Laws

•Vehicles must stop for school buses when the buses' red flashers are on (except when the buses are on the opposite side of a highway divided by a barrier or median strip).

 

[FED_UP]

Hmmmm interesting statement from drivers ed teacher, doesn't sound right though, you are suppose to stop. Oh wait, only in Southern Maryland.

 

[Ken King]

Hmmmm interesting statement from drivers ed teacher, doesn't sound right though, you are suppose to stop. Oh wait, only in Southern Maryland.

Interesting indeed - MD Code Transportation 21-706

§ 21-706. Overtaking and passing school vehicle

(a) Driver to stop on meeting or overtaking stopped school vehicle -- In general. -- If a school vehicle has stopped on a roadway and is operating the alternately flashing red lights specified in § 22-228 of this article, the driver of any other vehicle meeting or overtaking the school vehicle shall stop at least 20 feet from the rear of the school vehicle, if approaching the school vehicle from its rear, or at least 20 feet from the front of the school vehicle, if approaching the school vehicle from its front.

(b) Driver to stop on meeting or overtaking stopped school vehicle -- When vehicles may proceed. -- If a school vehicle has stopped on a roadway and is operating the alternately flashing red lights specified in § 22-228 of this article, the driver of any other vehicle meeting or overtaking the school vehicle may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the alternately flashing red lights are deactivated.

(c) Exceptions. -- This section does not apply to the driver of a vehicle on a divided highway, if the school vehicle is on a different roadway.

MD Code, Transportation 22-228(f) -

§ 22-208(f) Use of loading zones. --

(1) In this subsection, "loading zone" means an area:

(i) That is:

1. On a highway, but not on the roadway, for use in receiving or discharging passengers residing on the same side of the highway as the loading zone; or

2. Not on a highway; and

(ii) Whose location has been designated and approved by either the superintendent of schools in the local school system in which the loading zone is located, the Department of State Police, or the local police department, in cooperation with the State Highway Administration or local traffic engineering agency, as applicable.

MD Code, Transportation 11-151 Roadway

§ 11-151. Roadway

(a) In general. -- "Roadway" means that part of a highway that is improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, other than the shoulder.

(b) Two or more separate roadways. -- If a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" as used in the Maryland Vehicle Law refers to any one roadway separately, and not to all of the roadways collectively.

It seems that when a bus is on the shoulder it isn't on the "roadway", thus the driving instructor might be correct.

Would one of the many LEOs out there care to weigh-in?

 

[Lurk]

Well a Certain drivers Ed Company in St. Mary's told my sister otherwise. I was in the truck with her and she didn't stop and I was like you are suppose to stop she said Drivers and teacher told her otherwise.

Or, at least, that's what the sister said the driver's ed teacher told her.

 

[kwillia]

Or, at least, that's what the sister said the driver's ed teacher told her.

Exactly what I was thinking. He could have very well told her that she didn'thave to stop it was on the shoulder, but in the context of the bus NOT having the red flashing lights on.

 

[GWguy]

Interesting indeed - MD Code Transportation 21-706
MD Code, Transportation 22-228(f) -
MD Code, Transportation 11-151 Roadway
It seems that when a bus is on the shoulder it isn't on the "roadway", thus the driving instructor might be correct.

Would one of the many LEOs out there care to weigh-in?

I would think there is much room for interpretation.

When a bus pulls over to the far right with flashers, it's obvious the driver is attempting to relieve traffic (I see this mornings on Rt 234). Once the driver turns off the lights, the bus is giving you an opportunity to pass before they pull back onto the road. That's when I would pass, not before, not as long as the lights are flashing.

 

[Ken King]

I would think there is much room for interpretation.

When a bus pulls over to the far right with flashers, it's obvious the driver is attempting to relieve traffic (I see this mornings on Rt 234). Once the driver turns off the lights, the bus is giving you an opportunity to pass before they pull back onto the road. That's when I would pass, not before, not as long as the lights are flashing.

Kind of why I asked for some input from the local constabulary. If the shoulder isn't considered the roadway then it seems the requirement to stop upon encountering a bus with flashing lights isn't required. Now if some believe, like me (and apparently many others), that a stop is mandated and others are being taught that it isn't I could see a potential accident scenario being nurtured.

 

[GWguy]

Kind of why I asked for some input from the local constabulary. If the shoulder isn't considered the roadway then it seems the requirement to stop upon encountering a bus with flashing lights isn't required. Now if some believe, like me (and apparently many others), that a stop is mandated and others are being taught that it isn't I could see a potential accident scenario being nurtured.

That's it in a nutshell. The 'what if' scenario. If a child were to be hit, regardless of lights, regardless of whether or not the kid did something stupid, regardless of the bus driver's intentions, you live with that the rest of your life.

I'll stop, tyvm. I'm not that impatient.

 

[Ken King]

That's it in a nutshell. The 'what if' scenario. If a child were to be hit, regardless of lights, regardless of whether or not the kid did something stupid, regardless of the bus driver's intentions, you live with that the rest of your life.

I'll stop, tyvm. I'm not that impatient.

Me too until I know otherwise. It's been almost 6 years since I've had to be somewhere so I'll wait. Heck, after living around for the past few years I've gotten to the point that I pull to the shoulder and stop when I see an oncoming funeral procession, found out the hard way that is the law in some places.

 

[foodcritic]

I love how convaluded our systems have become.

 

[Hank]

convaluded

nice try! good game!

 

[BadGirl]

nice try! good game!

Khanvalooted?

 

[Hank]

Khanvalooted?