A school bus with red signal lights flashing is stopped on a highway that has no median strip. What does the law require you to?
- Sound your horn
- Reduce speed and pass with care
- Stop at least 20m away ✓
- Stop tight up to the rear fender
Answer: C. Stop at least 20m away
You must stop at least 20 metres away when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing on a road with no median strip.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says overhead red flashing lights or a stop arm mean you must stop, whether you are behind the bus or approaching it. It adds that when you come from behind the bus, you should stop at least 20 metres away. Because this road has no median strip, the usual median exception does not apply, so the safe and required response is to stop well back and wait until the lights stop flashing.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Sound your horn — Sounding your horn does not meet the requirement to stop for the bus's red flashing lights.
- B. Reduce speed and pass with care — Red lights call for a stop, not simply slowing down and passing with care.
- D. Stop tight up to the rear fender — Stopping tight against the rear fender is too close; the handbook calls for at least 20 metres when you come from behind the bus.
Remember it
Treat flashing red lights like a stop sign that reaches across the road when there is no median.