Texas Driver's License Knowledge TestSafe Driving PracticesHard

You are driving on a two-lane road and notice a school bus ahead has stopped, activated its red flashing lights, and extended its stop arm. What is the correct action to take?

  1. ASlow down and pass the bus cautiously if no children are visible.
  2. BOnly stop if you are traveling in the same direction as the bus.
  3. CProceed if there is a median separating your lane from the bus.
  4. DStop at least 20 feet from the bus, regardless of your direction of travel.
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D. Stop at least 20 feet from the bus, regardless of your direction of travel.

On a two-lane road, drivers in both directions must stop at least 20 feet from a stopped school bus with red flashing lights and an extended stop arm. This rule protects children crossing the street.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm out is illegal and extremely dangerous.
  • B. This is incorrect; on a two-lane road, both directions must stop.
  • C. A median is a physical barrier that would exempt you, but the question specifies a 'two-lane road,' implying no median unless explicitly stated otherwise, therefore requiring both directions to stop.

School Bus Stop Law (Two-lane)

On a two-lane road, all drivers traveling in both directions must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that has stopped to load or unload children and has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.

  • Applies to all traffic on a two-lane road.
  • Stop at least 20 feet away.
  • Must remain stopped until lights are off and arm is retracted.

Memory trick: Red lights flash, stop arm's out, 20 feet back, no doubt!

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