It is illegal in Alabama to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights in most cases. One narrow exception is for oncoming traffic on a roadway divided by a physical barrier.
Each day school is in session, around 350,000 students in Alabama ride school buses that travel over 450,000 miles, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation. School buses stop often to pick up and drop off kids, so it is important for all drivers to know Alabama’s laws on stopping for school buses.
Nationally, about 22 children die each year while walking near school buses. You can help protect kids and keep everyone on the road safer during the school year by knowing when to stop and when you can pass a moving school bus in Alabama.
Is It illegal to Pass a School Bus in Alabama?
It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus in most cases under Alabama Code § 32-5A-154. Alabama school bus law requires drivers to stop for school or church buses displaying flashing red lights and stop signs while picking up or dropping off school children or passengers.
The rule applies whether you are behind the bus or approaching it from the other direction. You must stay stopped until the lights turn off, the sign folds in, or the bus driver signals you to go.
The only exception is when you are on a divided highway with four or more lanes and a median or barrier separating traffic. In that case, only drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Everyone else can keep moving, but must still drive carefully and watch for schoolchildren.
What Are the Rules of the Road to Know About School Buses?
In Alabama, drivers must stop when a school bus stops to pick up or drop off students, according to the Alabama Department of Education. If you are on a two-lane road, traffic in both directions must stop. The same rule applies to roads with a center turn lane or roads with four lanes but no median. Even if there are multiple lanes, unless there is a true physical divider, all traffic must stop when the bus displays flashing red lights and a stop sign.
The only exception is for divided highways with four or more lanes and a raised median or physical barrier. In those cases, only the vehicles behind the bus must stop. Traffic going the other way can keep moving, but drivers should still use caution.
If a bus is moving and not displaying red warning lights or other visual signals, you can legally pass it as long as you follow other relevant traffic and safety laws. The key factor is whether the bus has stopped to load or unload children and has its stop signals on.
What Are the Penalties for Breaking the Alabama School Bus Laws?
Illegally passing a stopped school bus in Alabama can result in steep fines and other penalties, such as:
- Conviction on a first offense could lead to a fine of $150 to $300.
- A second violation can result in $300 to $500 in fines, 100 hours of community service, and a 30-day license suspension.
- A third offense can result in $500 to $1,000 in fines, 200 community service hours, and a 90-day license suspension.
- A fourth offense is a felony, punishable by a one-year license suspension and a fine of $1,000 to $3,000.
You will also get five points on your driver’s license record, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Drivers with points on their licenses might face higher auto insurance rates.
How Our Alabama Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help After a School Bus Crash
If a driver hit you or your child near a school bus, the lawyers at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., are ready to help you fight for the recovery you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can help.
