Passing A Stopped School Bus Information

Although late in the school year, we are seeing an increase in the number of motorists who fail to stop for school buses with their stop indicators activated.  Many of these incidents are occurring on four lane roads.  The state code is very clear on when to stop for a school bus, but many people get confused on larger roads with center turn lanes, or solid medians. The graphic is very helpful in understanding when you are obligated to stop for a school bus. In each scenario, the vehicles in RED are legally obligated to stop.

     As you drive, please be watchful for stopped school buses and the actions of pedestrians who are exiting the buses, as well as other motorists. We will be watching as well. There really is no excuse for passing a school bus while passengers are loading or unloading.  

The State Code is provided as reference:

§ 46.2-859. Passing a stopped school bus; prima facie evidence.

A person driving a motor vehicle shall stop such vehicle when approaching, from any direction, any school bus which is stopped on any highway, private road or school driveway for the purpose of taking on or discharging children, the elderly, or mentally or physically handicapped persons, and shall remain stopped until all the persons are clear of the highway, private road or school driveway and the bus is put in motion; any person violating the foregoing is guilty of reckless driving. The driver of a vehicle, however, need not stop when approaching a school bus if the school bus is stopped on the other roadway of a divided highway, on an access road, or on a driveway when the other roadway, access road, or driveway is separated from the roadway on which he is driving by a physical barrier or an unpaved area. The driver of a vehicle also need not stop when approaching a school bus, which is loading or discharging passengers from or onto property immediately adjacent to a school if the driver is directed by a law-enforcement officer or other duly authorized uniformed school crossing guard to pass the school bus. This section shall apply to school buses which are equipped with warning devices prescribed in § 46.2-1090 and are painted yellow with the words "School Bus" in black letters at least eight inches high on the front and rear thereof. Only school buses which are painted yellow and equipped with the required lettering and warning devices shall be identified as school buses.

The testimony of the school bus driver, the supervisor of school buses or a law-enforcement officer that the vehicle was yellow, conspicuously marked as a school bus, and equipped with warning devices as prescribed in § 46.2-1090 is prima facie evidence that the vehicle is a school bus.