What You Need to Know About Passing a Stopped School Bus in Illinois
There’s a few more months before school gets out for summer, so now is a good time to review some safety protocols when it comes to driving near school zones, specifically passing a stopped school bus in Illinois. Here’s what you need to know to follow the rules, keep the roads safe and avoid penalties:
(Information taken from cyberdriveillinois.com)
The only time a vehicle is not required to stop for a school bus is when both vehicles are on a fourlane roadway and the bus is stopped in the opposite direction from which a driver is traveling. Any other time, a driver must stop before meeting or overtaking (passing) a school bus that is stopped and loading or unloading passengers. This includes:
- Any two-lane roadway, in rural areas and within city limits.
- Any roadway, highway, private road or parking lot located on school property.
A warning will be given by the school bus at least 100 feet (200 feet in rural areas) in advance of a stop. The bus driver will flash lights on the front and rear of the bus. The school 33 bus stop signal arm will be extended after the school bus has come to a complete stop. A driver approaching a school bus from the opposite direction must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the stop signal arm is no longer extended and the flashing lights are turned off or the school bus driver signals vehicles to pass.
A conviction for passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights and the stop arm extended will result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license. If the owner(s) of the vehicle were not driving when the offense occurred, they must provide the State’s Attorney’s Office with the name of the person driving the vehicle or their vehicle registration will be suspended for three months.
It’s also important to watch your speed while driving through a school zone, regardless if there is a school bus or children around. You never know when you need to come to a sudden stop, so it’s important to reduce your speed and drive with extra caution. Driving in a school zone should not be taken lightly. When you see a stopped school bus, take the necessary precautions to ensure safe driving and avoid any penalties or fines.
Frequently asked questions
When do you have to stop for a school bus in Illinois?
In Illinois, drivers must stop any time they meet or overtake a school bus that is stopped to load or unload passengers, in nearly every situation. That includes any two-lane road in either a rural area or within city limits, and any roadway, highway, private road, or parking lot on school property. The only exception is when you are on a four-lane roadway and the bus is stopped in the opposite direction of travel; in that case oncoming traffic is not required to stop, but traffic behind the bus still is.
How far in advance does a school bus signal that it's going to stop?
A school bus gives drivers a warning at least 100 feet before its stop in city or town areas, and at least 200 feet in advance in rural areas. The driver flashes lights on the front and rear of the bus during that warning period. Once the bus comes to a complete stop, the stop signal arm extends from the side of the bus. That is when all required vehicles must be stopped, and they must remain stopped until the arm retracts and the flashing lights are off, or the bus driver signals you to pass.
What is the penalty for passing a stopped school bus in Illinois?
A conviction for passing a stopped school bus that has its flashing lights on and stop arm extended results in the suspension of the driver's license. If the owner of the vehicle was not the one driving when the offense happened, they must provide the State's Attorney's Office with the name of the driver, or the vehicle's registration will be suspended for three months. This is one of the more serious moving violations in Illinois because the safety risk to children is so high.
Do I have to stop for a school bus on a four-lane road?
It depends on which direction you are traveling. If you are on a four-lane road and the school bus is stopped in the opposite direction of travel, you are not required to stop. If you are behind the bus, traveling in the same direction, you must stop regardless of how many lanes the road has. The four-lane exception is the only situation in Illinois where a stopped school bus with its lights flashing and stop arm out does not require you to come to a complete stop.
What should I do when driving through a school zone?
Reduce your speed and stay alert, whether or not a school bus is present and whether or not you see children. Children can appear suddenly from between parked cars or run into the street unexpectedly. Posted school zone speed limits are lower for a reason: shorter stopping distance gives you the best chance of avoiding a tragedy. Put your phone away, scan the sidewalks and crosswalks, and assume you may need to come to a sudden stop at any moment.
