Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumSchool Buses and Children Zones

While driving on a two-lane road, you approach a school bus parked along the right shoulder with its four-way emergency hazard flashers activated. The overhead alternating red lights are off and the side stop-arm is retracted. Which action should you take as you pass the school bus?

  1. Slow down and proceed past the bus with heightened caution, watching closely for children who may enter the roadway.Answer
  2. B
    Come to a complete stop at least 20 feet behind the bus and remain stopped until all flashing lights are turned off.
  3. C
    Maintain your current speed and sound your horn continuously to alert pedestrians of your approach.
  4. D
    Treat the hazard lights as a regulatory stop sign, coming to a full stop and yielding right-of-way to all vehicles in both lanes.

Answer

Slow down and proceed past the bus with heightened caution, watching closely for children who may enter the roadway.
State traffic laws mandate a full stop for a school bus only when its alternating overhead red lights are flashing and/or its stop-arm is extended. When a school bus activates four-way hazard flashers while parked on the shoulder, traffic is permitted to pass, provided drivers slow down and exercise extra vigilance for children who might step into the road.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the visual signal activated on the school bus.
The bus is displaying four-way emergency hazard flashers, while overhead red lights and the stop-arm remain inactive.
Traffic laws distinguish between hazard flashers (caution signal) and flashing red lights with stop-arm (mandatory stop signal).
2
Determine the legal driver requirement for hazard lights vs red lights.
Drivers are not legally required to stop for hazard lights alone, but must exercise extra care near children zones.
Hazard flashers indicate the bus is stopped or moving slowly, signaling potential pedestrian activity nearby.
3
Select the appropriate driving action.
Reduce speed, prepare to stop if a child appears, and proceed past the bus with caution.
Ensures compliance with basic speed laws and safety around school buses without creating unnecessary traffic blockages.

Key Concept

School Bus Flashing Lights Rules (Hazard Lights vs. Flashing Red Stop Signals)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

School Buses and Children Zones

More questions from this topic