stopping for school bus loading/unloading?

Question

the road is 4 lanes. 2 going one direction and 2 going the other with a turn lane in the center.
are we required to stop if we are going the opposite direction?
what about a grassy medium between the opposite lanes?

STATE OF INDIANA

Answer 1

It totally depends on what state you are in and what the law says for that state. As others have stated, the median can sometimes mean the difference.

In Ohio, the law actually states several things about 4 lane roads. First, it is illegal for the children to cross in front of the bus on a 4 lane road. It goes on to say that vehicles do NOT have to stop if traveling in the opposite direction if the road has 4 or more lanes, median or not. I have to leave for church, if you leave your question open, I will add the sections of the Ohio revised code that say this later today.

EDIT: Okay, I'm back. Nice try, Mr. Bad Day, but they revised their question to include Indiana... So the heck with Ohio, here we go...

IC 9-21-12-3 (Indiana Traffic Code)...
Divided highways; vehicles approaching school bus; duty to use caution
Sec. 3. On a highway divided into two (2) or more roadways by:
(1) leaving an intervening space that is unimproved and not intended for vehicular travel;
(2) a physical barrier; or
(3) a dividing section constructed to impede vehicular traffic; and if the school bus is on the opposite side of the traffic barrier, the person who drives an approaching vehicle need not stop and may proceed with due caution for the safety of children boarding or leaving the school bus.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Source...
http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/ar21/ch12.html

So... to paraphrase, in Indiana, unless there is a barrier or median, traffic heading the opposite direction must stop.

Mr. Bad Day... :P

Answer 2

Here in Maryland you must stop 10ft from the school bus once the RED lights are activated and the stop sign is out. At least here a police officer must witness a moving violation occuring for a citation to be issued. Cameras can issue citations however they usually dont include points, which will affect your insurance. Furthermore the bus driver probaly called in your tag, no camera, and you may get an informal warning but not an actual ticket. If you do get a ticket take it to court and argue that the lights on the bus were not red when you initated the pass. On another note you should be careful around school buses.

Answer 3

Todvango went to church? This is my chance!

He's right about Ohio, where we both live. Most states, however, require that you stop in both directions unless there is a median strip (the grassy medium you're thinking of.)

I used to be able to find a web page that listed the rules for all states, but I couldn't find it this morning. An easier solution, though, is to call you're local school district and just ask. Call between 9:00 am-11:00 am, which is possibly their slow times.

Now pick me as the best answer, before todvange gats back! Please, hurry!

Answer 4

If the road is not divided by an actual median, yes you have to stop even if going the opposite direction. If there is a median, you do have to stop in some states, but not in all of them.

Edit Sep 2
Okay, for Indianna, you DO NOT have to stop for the school bus if there is a median in the centre.
This is the wording:
"A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who fails to stop, when approaching from any direc-tion, any school bus which is stopped on any high-way or school driveway for the purpose of taking on or discharging children, the elderly, or mentally or physically handicapped persons, and to remain
stopped until all such persons are clear of the high-way or school driveway and the bus is put in mo-tion.
The driver of a vehicle, however, need not stop when approaching a school bus if such school bus is stopped on the other roadway of a divided highway, on an access road, or on a driveway when such other roadway, access road, or driveway is separated from the roadway on which he is driving by a physical barrier or an unpaved area."

Answer 5

My state says that you have to stop for the school bus unless there is a median between the lanes.

Answer 6

If it's a divided highway or street then no. The bus will drive both sides to drop off children... If it's 4 lanes but not divided then yes you need to stop.

Answer 7

In my state everyone stops, unless there's a grassy medium in the center.

Answer 8

You have to stop unless there is some sort of physical barrier, be it a median or something.

Answer 9

if the red lights are flashing you must stop behine the bus as far as the grassy medium if the driver gets out you must stop

Answer 10

the law states, if the bus stops, you must do so also,
in case, kids, run out in front of the bus,
all traffic must stop