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Difficulty: HardSchool Buses and Children Zones

You are driving at 35 mph on a multi-lane avenue divided by a raised concrete median. In the opposite direction across the median, a school bus has stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. At the exact same location, you enter a school zone marked with an active, flashing yellow beacon and a sign stating '25 MPH WHEN FLASHING'. Which of the following actions are you legally required to take?

  1. Reduce your speed to 25 mph and proceed with caution without stopping for the school bus.Answer
  2. B
    Come to a complete stop for the school bus flashing red lights and wait until its stop arm is fully retracted before proceeding at 35 mph.
  3. C
    Maintain your current speed of 35 mph while watching for children because opposing traffic is exempt from both school bus and school zone regulations on divided roads.
  4. D
    Come to a complete stop at the flashing yellow beacon and treat the school zone boundary as a full four-way stop intersection.

Answer

Reduce your speed to 25 mph and proceed with caution without stopping for the school bus.
When a roadway is physically divided by a raised median or concrete barrier, vehicles moving in the opposite direction of a stopped school bus are not required to stop. However, active flashing yellow beacons in a school zone legally mandate reducing speed to the posted speed limit (25 mph). Therefore, the driver must slow to 25 mph and proceed carefully without stopping.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the school bus stopping requirements for opposing traffic.
Because the highway is physically separated by a raised concrete median barrier, traffic traveling in the opposite direction is legally exempt from stopping for the bus.
Physical barriers prevent children from crossing into opposing traffic lanes, removing the mandatory stop rule for opposing vehicles.
2
Evaluate the school zone speed control signal.
The flashing yellow beacon signals that the reduced school zone speed limit of 25 mph is currently active and mandatory.
Active yellow beacons indicate that children are expected in the area, requiring immediate reduction from the standard speed limit to the reduced zone limit.
3
Combine regulatory requirements to determine legal driving action.
Slow down to 25 mph and proceed carefully past the school zone without coming to a full stop.
The driver must comply with the active school zone speed restriction while remaining exempt from the opposing bus stop requirement.

Key Concept

Physical median exceptions for school bus stopping laws combined with active school zone speed limit enforcement.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

School Buses and Children Zones

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