School buses

[Goldenhawk]

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.

Well, this is interesting, because these forums recently had several extended discussions over passing on the shoulder, and the police made a big point of announcing via the Enterprise and other local media that it was NOT okay to pass on the shoulder because the law states that the shoulder is NOT part of the roadway.

Seems to me they have already made a case that if the school bus pulls over a solid white line onto the shoulder, they are no longer on the driving surface of the roadway and thus there is no requirement for motorists to stop.

If the bus driver is trying to be nice about it, I would suggest they ought to only show their yellow flashers, not the red ones, so there is no confusion about whether a stop is required.

With all that said, I'm not inclined to try my luck. I would not assume the average officer will agree with my interpretation, and I'd rather (a) make sure the kids are safe, and (b) not spend a morning at the courthouse arguing my position with a judge.

 

[itsbob]

Depends.. I've noticed several drivers in the same situation.. if they pull into the "breakdown" lane they turn on their yellow flashing light but do NOT turn on the red flashers nor deploy the stop sign.

The ones I see that DO turn on the red flashers and deploy the stop sign do NOT move into the breakdown lane. They stay in the travel lane blocking the traffic behind them.

If you were driving and going to turn on your red lights and require both directions to stop WHY would you pullover to the breakdown lane?

NoW where the red light would not apply is the part of 235 where it 4 lanes and divided.. my understanding is people on the same side as the bus have to stop where opposing traffic does not..

 

[CRHS89]

If they pull over and put the red lights on you must stop. But many will pull over to the shoulder without the lights, so that traffic does not have to stop. I think I recently read however that the drivers are being told that starting next school year they are not allowed to do that. They MUST always use their flashing red lights when letting off kids.

 

[SoMDmomof3]

Next school year there should be no issues of anyone knowing to stop or not. There is a proposed change to the bus stop rules. If it is passed, all buses will stop in the road and use their lights and stop signs. So we will be required to stop for all buses. They will have a spot or two on there route where they will pull off to the side to allow traffic to pass so it does not get to backed up.

This however does not apply to private schools. And the buses look the same in St. Mary's County. The way you can tell the difference is a public school bus number is either 3 or 4 digits, where as a private school bus is 2 digits.

 

[itsbob]

Next school year there should be no issues of anyone knowing to stop or not. There is a proposed change to the bus stop rules. If it is passed, all buses will stop in the road and use their lights and stop signs. So we will be required to stop for all buses. They will have a spot or two on there route where they will pull off to the side to allow traffic to pass so it does not get to backed up.

This however does not apply to private schools. And the buses look the same in St. Mary's County. The way you can tell the difference is a public school bus number is either 3 or 4 digits, where as a private school bus is 2 digits.

How are the rules for operating a school bus connected to the type of school they service? A school bus is a school bus, the requirements to drive one is the same for all of them as they are ALL privately owned.

 

[afjess1989]

How are the rules for operating a school bus connected to the type of school they service? A school bus is a school bus, the requirements to drive one is the same for all of them as they are ALL privately owned.

Not all school buses are privately owned. I asked my grandmother what the rules were. She said you have to stop. She drove a school bus for 30 years and it was owned by the board.

 

[pebbles]

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.

This happened to my BF recently. AND he wasn't as lucky as you....there was a cop there & he was pulled over. They had a long discussion on it. He got a $590 fine & 3 points but the officer told him to go to court to explain how it happened. He passes this driver EVERY day & most days she never uses her red lights so he gets in the far left lane when going by just in case, I guess she saw the cop too on this day & decided to turn them on in the last second.

 

[slseaweed]

Not too long ago, I was two cars behind a school bus. The bus pulled over onto the shoulder (which happened to be a large shoulder, so the bus was well off the roadway). He did put his lights on, but stupidly me and the car in front of me went on past the bus. OF COURSE, there was a cop sitting right there and immediately came after me. He stopped me and told me that "anytime a bus has it's lights on and sign out, you must stop. Whether the bus is on the shoulder of the road or not." Excluding when there is a median in the road of course. He also advised me that a ticket for this is 3 points and I believe a $300 fine.

Luckily he gave me a slap on the wrist after I explained to him how confusing it is when some buses pull onto the should and don't put any lights on and some do, or you have the ones that put them on at the very last minute.

 

[pebbles]

They are definitly cracking down on it. But the drivers need to be consistent as well. It's not right to just flip the red lights on with no warning.

 

[bilbur]

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.

I believe I heard that a new law will prohibit buses from letting kids off when they are pulled over on the shoulder. If I heard correctly they must be in the roadway before they turn on their lights and let kids off. If this is true than anytime they pull onto the shoulder it will be to let traffic by. Personally I never will pass a school bus when its lights are on. When I was young I can remember a kid getting hit by someone passing the bus on the shoulder. The kid was OK but it could have turned out much different. Also they are putting cameras on buses and it is around $500 if you get caught.

 

[drivingdaisy]

Next school year there should be no issues of anyone knowing to stop or not. There is a proposed change to the bus stop rules. If it is passed, all buses will stop in the road and use their lights and stop signs. So we will be required to stop for all buses. They will have a spot or two on there route where they will pull off to the side to allow traffic to pass so it does not get to backed up.

This however does not apply to private schools. And the buses look the same in St. Mary's County. The way you can tell the difference is a public school bus number is either 3 or 4 digits, where as a private school bus is 2 digits.

This seems odd a school bus is a school bus. And aren't private school buses provided for by the county (state?) anyhow?

 

[itsbob]

Not all school buses are privately owned. I asked my grandmother what the rules were. She said you have to stop. She drove a school bus for 30 years and it was owned by the board.

Personally, and admittedly my knowledge is limited, I don't know of any school buses owned by the schools or the county.

 

[Justme2]

Fine is

$$$$$$$$$$586.00 and 3 points as of 2010. And watch out for the buses that turn the lights on while still in motion.

I got a ticket I was coming down Catalina Drive heading for Club House.
The roads are winded just as the bus was coming up one side of a turn I was coming up the other side of the turn heading the opposite direction.

Well we met just after the turn on her side and she already had her light blinking and was rolling about 15 miles a hour. She stopped so suddenly the State Trooper all most hit her and had to get the 2 cars behind him to back up for him to chase after me.

So yeah go ahead pass the bus for 586 bucks and 3 points or a day in court..

 

[SEABREEZE 1957]

Damn people! What is so hard to understand here? If a school bus has turned on their red lights & is 'extending' the Stop sign it means something...it means kids are about to enter/exit the bus. No one should be trying to hurry by to 'escape' having to stop for a bus.

It's simple, if you see a school bus on the side of the road, red lights on, sign extending, kids are getting on/off the bus - Stop.

If you see a school bus on the highway, lights are one & kids are getting on/off the bus - Stop.

If it's about the time school starts or ends - that's a clue.

Everyone who drives should know the law & abide by it. Your license is a privilege, not a right.

sheesh.

 

[CRHS89]

What I find more confusing is when you are meeting a bus with its yellow lights on. Are you supposed to stop then? What if you don't and as you are near it or go by it the red lights come on? I have tried to stop before and the bus drove past me before stopping and putting on its red lights.

 

[Baja28]

They are definitly cracking down on it. But the drivers need to be consistent as well. It's not right to just flip the red lights on with no warning.

Excellent point!! I have followed many buses and they put on the yellows and drive for a distance then suddenly stop while simultaneously turning on the reds and that's

Damn people! What is so hard to understand here? If a school bus has turned on their red lights & is 'extending' the Stop sign it means something...it means kids are about to enter/exit the bus. No one should be trying to hurry by to 'escape' having to stop for a bus.

It's simple, if you see a school bus on the side of the road, red lights on, sign extending, kids are getting on/off the bus - Stop.

If you see a school bus on the highway, lights are one & kids are getting on/off the bus - Stop.

If it's about the time school starts or ends - that's a clue.

Everyone who drives should know the law & abide by it. Your license is a privilege, not a right.

sheesh.

Go back and read post 10.

 

[SEABREEZE 1957]

Excellent point!! I have followed many buses and they put on the yellows and drive for a distance then suddenly stop while simultaneously turning on the reds and that's

Go back and read post 10.

I read it - common sense says stop if a bus is stopped/stopping & kids are getting on/off a bus. A divided highway - again common sense.

Oh & yes the bus drivers should be consistent. Is that your point? Regardless, if you are driving & a bus is present during pick up/drop off times, that indicates the bus is there for a reason & more caution should be applied.

 

[Baja28]

I read it - common sense says stop if a bus is stopped/stopping & kids are getting on/off a bus. A divided highway - again common sense.

Oh & yes the bus drivers should be consistent. Is that your point? Regardless, if you are driving & a bus is present during pick up/drop off times, that indicates the bus is there for a reason & more caution should be applied.

Common sense is irrelevant when it comes to the law.
What KK posted seems to state that it is ok to pass a bus with red lights on if they are on the shoulder.

As for the sudden red lights, it seems they are automatic since I see it on every bus. Maybe a bus driver can chime in.

 

[BernieP]

Damn people! What is so hard to understand here? If a school bus has turned on their red lights & is 'extending' the Stop sign it means something...it means kids are about to enter/exit the bus. No one should be trying to hurry by to 'escape' having to stop for a bus.

It's simple, if you see a school bus on the side of the road, red lights on, sign extending, kids are getting on/off the bus - Stop.

If you see a school bus on the highway, lights are one & kids are getting on/off the bus - Stop.

I thought the question and answer was pretty straight forward.
The only wrinkle would be on 235 or similiar divided highway, I do not believe the vehicles on the opposite side of the median stop.

Now if it's turned into a biatch list of bus driver ediquette...
Wow, that could be a long one.
Some of it would invovle the little angles and their damn parental units
Some would involve the school system and their choice of stops.

• Let's see there is the "let's chat with the parent with the door open" extended stop.
• Let's wait while the kids slowly walk up the road to the bus stop. Can't help but remember when I was in school - either you were AT THE BUS stop or you were left behind. Being able to touch the rear corner of the bus didn't count if the last kid was on, door closed and you were left running.
• Overly protective parents that don't allow their wee little middle school and high school children to leave the comfortable confines of their luxury vehcile until the bus is almost loaded so as they dont have to spend any more time in the elements than should be required of someone of their stature.
• Then there are the stops on the main road (at an intersection) where the bus then proceeds to turn onto the side street. Why didn't they just pull aroimd the corner and stop?

 

[FED_UP]

Not too long ago, I was two cars behind a school bus. The bus pulled over onto the shoulder (which happened to be a large shoulder, so the bus was well off the roadway). He did put his lights on, but stupidly me and the car in front of me went on past the bus. OF COURSE, there was a cop sitting right there and immediately came after me. He stopped me and told me that "anytime a bus has it's lights on and sign out, you must stop. Whether the bus is on the shoulder of the road or not." Excluding when there is a median in the road of course. He also advised me that a ticket for this is 3 points and I believe a $300 fine.

Luckily he gave me a slap on the wrist after I explained to him how confusing it is when some buses pull onto the should and don't put any lights on and some do, or you have the ones that put them on at the very last minute.

Saw a maroon VW today stop on Chancellors after making right off Peggs road light across from a school bus with red lights activated heading toward Great Mills rd. I was sitting at the light thinking what is she doing. I actually got to speak to her at another light on Chancellors and told her she was not supposed to stop. She said she was not sure and was being cautious because of bus cams. Should we get book tested every 7 years or so? I probably don't remember everything either but the important stuff you better remember or at least take time to look it up.