KNOW YOUR OWN STATE LAW

Driving In The USA And Canada - School Buses - Important Regulations For The Drivers Of Other Vehicles

---

The information on this page, although extensively checked and believed to be correct, is completely unofficial and is provided for general guidance purposes only.

The General Regulation

School buses are used extensively throughout America and Canada. They are easily spotted by means of their distinctive yellow colour. These buses are used to pick up children from their homes in the morning and drop them off again after school.

When a school bus stops to pick up or drop off children the driver switches on red flashing lights and makes a stop sign extend out from the side of the bus on a folding arm.

If a school bus has its stop sign extended and/or its red lights flashing then traffic IN BOTH DIRECTIONS must stop, so as to allow children to cross the road safely.

Passing a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and/or its red lights flashing is a very serious offence which in most cases will result in the suspension of a driver's licence.

owever, Justin JIH has discovered that some US states and Canadian provinces do specify minimum distances, as follows:

• Connecticut, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the US Virgin Islands: 10 feet.

• The District Of Columbia, Iowa and South Dakota: 15 feet.

• Manitoba, New Brunswick, Quebec and Saskatchewan: 5 metres.

• Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin: 20 feet.

• Prince Edward Island: 6 metres.

• New Hampshire and New Jersey: 25 feet.

• Alaska and Louisiana: 30 feet.

• Ontario: 20 metres.