A Refresher on When to Stop, When NOT to Stop When Passing a School Bus
Hey, just a quick refresher here as we settle into our school year routines.
When you see a bus, there are times when you must stop, and there are times when you do NOT stop!
Obviously, if you fail to stop when the law dictates, you are putting children in harms way. On the flipside, stopping when you are NOT supposed to – like on the opposite side of a four-lane road – can be just as dangerous!
The Joliet Police have a helpful reminder for us all.
If you are interested in the actual law, here you go:
Special Stops – School Buses: The only time a vehicle is not required to stop for a school bus is when both vehicles are on a four-lane roadway and the bus is stopped in the opposite direction from which a driver is traveling. Any other time, you must stop before meeting or overtaking (passing) a school bus that is stopped and loading or unloading passengers.
This includes:
• Any two-lane roadway, in rural areas and within city limits.
• Any roadway, highway or private road.
• Any parking lot located on school property.
There’s even an additional state statute that states the same:
The driver of a vehicle upon a highway having 4 or more lanes which permits at least 2 lanes of traffic to travel in opposite directions need not stop such vehicle upon meeting a school bus which is stopped in the opposing roadway; and need not stop such vehicle when driving upon a controlled access highway when passing a school bus traveling in either direction that is stopped in a loading zone adjacent to the surfaced or improved part of the controlled access highway where pedestrians are not permitted to cross.