Are there exceptions to stopping for school buses in SC? Here’s what the law says
August is here and students across South Carolina have begun returning to classes for a new school year.
And that means plenty of school buses will be on the road again.
Drivers are told it’s the law to stop and or drive slowly when approaching school buses. In general, that just seems like common sense, given that buses often make frequent stops and have young children running in and out of them — not always watching traffic on both sides of the street.
But if you see a school bus on the side of the road, must you stop for it no matter what?
Turns out, under South Carolina law, there are a few rare exceptions. But first, let’s look at what the law says about when drivers should stop for a school bus.
When to stop for a school bus in SC
A driver must stop the entire time that a school bus is stopped or when it is preparing to stop with its red or amber lights flashing or if it has its stop arm extended, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. After the school bus’ lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm is no longer extended, drivers must still proceed slowly and watch for children.
The law requires the above actions whether you are behind the school bus or meeting it under the following conditions:
- On any four-lane or multi-lane highway only when traveling behind a school bus
- On any two-lane highway
- When attempting to pass a school bus that has red or amber signals flashing
- When approaching a school bus on a two-lane road
When not to stop for a school bus in SC
Drivers in South Carolina do not have stop near a school bus under these circumstances:
- A driver does not have to stop when meeting a stopped school bus when traveling in the opposite direction of a multi-lane highway or multi-lane private road, the department of public safety states.
- Multi-lane roads and highways are defined as having four lanes, with at least two traffic lanes in each direction.
- A driver still must stop on any type of highway if they are behind a stopped bus. The driver cannot proceed until the school bus moves or its lights are no longer flashing.
- A driver does not have to stop for a school bus if it is in a passenger loading zone that is completely off main travel lanes and when pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway, according to the department of public safety
This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
