​Road Rules 101: What to do when you see flashing red lights on a school bus

What to do when you see flashing red lights on a school bus?

There's a big yellow school bus in front of you. You see its red lights flashing, stop sign sticking out. So you stop … right? 

Well, not always. It depends where you live and where you're traveling. Here's a back-to-school refresher:

In Washington – RCW 46.61.370.

Drivers MUST STOP when:

• They're behind the bus, traveling in the same direction, regardless of the number of lanes. Drivers can't use the center turn lane to pass the bus.
• They're on a two-lane road, heading in the opposite direction of the bus.
  

Drivers DO NOT NEED TO STOP when:

• They're on a road with three or more lanes, heading in the opposite direction of the bus.
• They're on a divided highway, heading in the opposite direction of the bus.
  

In Oregon – ORS.811.155

Drivers MUST STOP when:

• They're behind the bus or heading in the opposite direction, regardless of the number of lanes.
  

Drivers DO NOT NEED TO STOP when:

• They're on a divided highway, separated by an unpaved median or divider, heading in the opposite direction of the bus.
  

In both states, drivers must stay stopped until the bus driver turns off the red lights, and it's NEVER OK to pass a school bus on the right, since that's where kids are loading and unloading.

NOTE: While we're experts in loss prevention and home/auto safety, we don't consider ourselves experts in traffic laws or their enforcement. Information shared here is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you have legal concerns, we urge you to contact a law enforcement source or attorney in your community.