Arizona Drivers Permit Pactice Exam

What is the legal requirement for stopping at a school bus with its lights flashing?

1. You only need to stop if you are driving in the same direction as the bus

2. You must stop regardless of the direction you are coming from

3. Stopping is optional if the road is four lanes

4. Only vehicles behind the bus need to stop

The correct answer is: You must stop regardless of the direction you are coming from

When a school bus has its lights flashing, it signals that children are either boarding or disembarking from the bus. To ensure the safety of these children, the law requires that all drivers, regardless of their direction of travel, come to a complete stop when approaching a school bus that is displaying flashing lights. This measure is in place to protect students as they cross the road, which can be unpredictable in terms of their behavior. Drivers must remain stopped until the bus turns off its flashing lights and retracts its stop sign arm, ensuring that it is safe to proceed. The law does not differentiate based on the number of lanes on the road; therefore, even if the road is divided by multiple lanes, all vehicles in both directions must stop for the school bus when its lights are activated. This creates a uniform guideline that prioritizes the safety of children around school buses, making it clear that the obligation to stop applies universally.