When must you stop for a school bus on Pennsylvania roads? Here’s what the law says

In 2021, there were a little more than 9 million licensed drivers in the Keystone State and about 8.6 million non-commercial drivers, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles.

Of those, 43,000 are licensed school bus drivers, and with about 31,000 buses on the roads in the state, interactions can be frequent.

If you need a refresher on the laws regarding stopping for and passing school buses and more, we’ve working up a primer with information from the Pennsylvania Department of Transport’s website.

When to stop for a school bus in Pennsylvania

• Stop 10 feet from a school bus when its red lights are on and the stop sign is extended.
• You cannot move again until the bus turns off its lights, its stop sign is not extended and all children are safe.
• Stop when you are behind a bus, meeting a bus or nearing an intersection where a bus is stopped.
• If there is a physical barrier, like a median, that separates oncoming traffic from the bus, you do not have to stop.
• If there is a turn lane but no physical barrier, all oncoming traffic must stop.

If you violate a school bus stopping law, you could get fined $250, get five points on your driving record or get your license suspended for 60 days.

Staying safe while riding the school bus

PennDOT also lists tips for parents to use to ensure their children’s safety when waiting for, riding on and getting off the school bus every day. Here are some:

• Get to the bus stop five minutes early.
• When waiting for the bus, stay at least five steps away from the curb and away from traffic.
• Don’t run after the school bus if you miss it.
• Walk 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so you remain in the bus driver’s line of sight.
• Wait until all traffic has stopped before crossing the road once you are out of the bus.
• Never cross the street behind the bus.
• Make sure all loose objects are secure when exiting the bus to ensure nothing gets stuck in the door.

To see the rest of the tips, as well as tips for school bus drivers, visit PennDOT’s website.

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.