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Difficulty: MediumEmergency Vehicles, School Buses, and Work Zones

A motorist is driving on a roadway featuring two travel lanes in each direction separated by a center two-way left-turn lane. A school bus traveling in the opposite direction comes to a complete stop and displays flashing red lights with its visual stop-arm extended. What action must drivers traveling in the opposite direction take?

  1. Stop completely before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing and the stop-arm is retractedAnswer
  2. B
    Slow down to a maximum speed of 15 mph and proceed with caution without bringing the vehicle to a complete stop
  3. C
    Continue driving at the posted speed limit because the center turn lane acts as a physical dividing median
  4. D
    Yield the right-of-way only if pedestrians or school children are actively stepping into the center turning lane

Answer

Drivers in all lanes, including oncoming traffic, must stop completely before reaching the school bus and remain stopped until the flashing red lights turn off and the stop-arm is retracted.
The correct response mandates a complete stop until the flashing red lights stop and the stop-arm is retracted. Under standard traffic safety laws, when a school bus stops and displays red flashing lights on a highway that is separated only by a painted lane (such as a two-way left-turn lane), vehicles in all lanes traveling in both directions must come to a complete stop to protect disembarking children.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the roadway configuration and physical separation type
The road has multiple lanes in each direction separated by a center two-way left-turn lane (paved surface mark), not a physical barrier or raised median strip.
Divided highway exceptions only apply when roadways are divided by an unpaved space, physical barrier, or raised median.
2
Apply statutory stopping rules for active school bus signals
Because a center turn lane does not constitute a physical median, traffic in all lanes across both directions must come to a full stop for flashing red signals.
Children may cross multiple lanes of traffic to reach their destination when exiting the bus.
3
Determine the duration of the required stop
Remain stationary until the red flashing lights are deactivated and the stop signal arm is fully retracted.
Driver movement is legally prohibited while the bus displays active visual red stop signals.

Key Concept

School Bus Flashing Red Light Stop Laws on Paved Roadways with Center Turn Lanes
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Topics

Emergency Vehicles, School Buses, and Work Zones

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