The following PowerPoint program, was developed to assist school districts, school bus drivers, and law enforcement on the correct procedures for receiving and discharging pupils.

Second revision on July 20, 2006 to incorporate legislative changes to positioning of the school bus during hazard light stops and the definition of "Clear and Continuous Visibility". 

"School Bus Stops"

Those that do not have powerpoint may view the slide presentation as a PDF file.

"School Bus Stops PDF"

Michigan Law concerning school buses and their operation can be found in Public Act 187 of 1990, otherwise known as the Pupil Transportation Act.  Questions occasionally arise concerning various aspects of the Act.  The following are some of the more common questions received.

The question and answer portion of this page was revised on July 13, 2007.

Question:  When do I have to stop for a school bus with red overhead flashing lights?

Answer:  MCL 257.682 states "The driver of a vehicle overtaking or meeting a school bus which has stopped and is displaying 2 alternately flashing red lights located at the same level shall bring the vehicle to a full stop not less than 20 feet from the school bus and shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer actuated."

The only exceptions are;

• Where the roadway is divided by a physical barrier or interviening space such as a median or boulevard.
• When direct by a police officer.
• When at an intersection controlled by a stop-and-go signal, however the driver must slow to a reasonable and safe speed no greater than 10 miles-per-hour.

Question: There are school bus stops where children have to cross the road as well as some that do not.  What procedure must be used? 

Answer:  Combination stops such as these require the procedure for "pupils crossing the roadway" to be used.  This means bus must stop completely on the roadway and an alternately flashing overhead  light stop utilized.  A hazard light stop is not allowed.

Question: What is the minimum distance allowed between school bus stops? 

Answer:  While there is no specific statute that addresses this question, MCL 257.1855 states that for overhead red/amber flashing light stops, the driver must activate the lights at least 200 feet prior to the stop.  So in essence, school bus stops using the overhead light system must be at least 200 feet apart.

There is no such requirement for hazard light stops so there is no minimum distance required between stops.

Question: I saw a school bus picking up students and the overhead lights were not flashing, just the emergency flashers.  Is that legal? 

Answer:  Yes, under certain circumstances.  PA 187 allows what is called a "hazard light stop" under limited circumstances.  Motorists approaching a school bus that is utilizing this type of stop may pass the bus while it is picking up or discharging students.  Motorists should always exercise care when doing so.  In this type of stop, children are not allowed to cross the roadway but motorists should always be prepared for the unexpected and drive accordingly.

Question: Do I have to stop when I see a bus that has it's overhead yellow lights on? 

Answer:  The National Transportation Safety Administration has this to say when discussing activation of the overhead yellow lights. "Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop."   

Question: Does a funeral procession have to stop for a school bus displaying flashing red lights? 

Answer:  That depends.  The Michigan Vehicle Code does not give a funeral procession the right of way over a school bus except at an intersection.

A funeral procession approaching a stopped school bus displaying flashing red overhead lights must stop and cannot proceed until the flashing red lights are extinguished. 

A school bus driver should exercise good judgment concerning when to activate the overhead red lights upon the approach of a funeral procession.

Question:  I see some buses that have yellow lights overhead next to the red lights and some that do not. Why is that? 

Answer:    Older school buses were only equipped with four red overhead lights and are known as a "four light" system. All new school buses have an "eight light system" that consists of four overhead amber and four overhead red lights.  P.A. 187 requires the school bus driver to activate any overhead light system 200 feet prior to the school bus stop. 

The important difference for motorists to remember is that on a bus equipped with a four light system (red only), the bus driver will avtivate the overhead reds 200 feet prior to the stop and while the bus is still moving. MCL 257.628 states that a motorist has to stop for a school bus that is displaying overhead flashing red lights and is stopped. In otherwords if you are approaching a school bus that is still moving and displaying overhead red flashing lights you should prepare to stop but if you are at a point so close to the bus that you cannot stop safely you are not required to stop.  Once the bus stops, everyone is required to stop.

On buses with an eight light system (amber and red), the bus driver will activate the AMBER lights at least 200 feet BEFORE the stop.  Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop.  Once the bus comes to a complete stop the red lights will engage and traffic is then required to stop.

Question:  Can a school bus block an intersection when loading or unloading? 

Answer:  That depends on the type of intersection and the type of stop.  While blocking an intersection may not violate statute, the Michigan State Police does not recommend doing so due the inherently unsafe situation which it creates.

A school bus cannot block an intersection that is controlled by a traffic signal (stop and go) under any circumstances.  At all other intersections a school bus while loading or unloading with its red overhead flashing lights activated may block an intersection if the stop has been approved by the transportation director.  How?

First we must define what the bus is or is not doing.  The Michigan Vehicle Code defines "parking" as "standing a vehicle, whether occupied or not, upon a highway, when not loading or unloading except when making necessary repairs."  With that definition in mind, the school bus is not "parked". Therefore, the prohibitions against parking within an intersection contained within MCL 257.674, do not apply to a school bus when it is loading or unloading.

Next, we must look at MCL 257.676b, Interference with the flow of traffic. That statute states, "A person, without authority, shall not block, obstruct, impede, or otherwise interfere with the normal flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic upon a public street or highway in this state, by means of a barricade, object, or device, or with his or her person. This section shall not apply to persons maintaining, rearranging, or constructing public utility facilities in or adjacent to a street or highway."  Since a school bus that is blocking traffic when loading or unloading with red overheads activated, IS acting with the authority granted under Public Act 187, 676b does not apply.

Finally, the stop must be conducted with red overhead flashing lights activated rather than with a hazard light stop.  MCL 257.682 requires traffic to stop when overtaking or meeting a school bus that is displaying two alternately flashing red lights.  There are only two times a vehicle does not have to stop for a school bus displaying two alternately flashing red lights.  The first is when a vehicle is separated from the school bus by a barrier, intervening space, or a clearly indicated dividing section that is constructed to impede vehicular traffic. The second is at an intersection controlled by a police officer or a traffic stop-and-go signal.

MCL 257.1855 regulates school bus stops and associated procedures. The following list contains highlights of that statute.

• There are two types of school bus stops permitted in Michigan.  They are defined as alternately flashing overhead red/amber light stops and hazard light stops.
• These two types can be further broken into a total of four types of stops. 
  • Overhead flashing lights stops where pupils ARE required to cross the roadway.
  • Overhead flashing light stops where pupils ARE NOT required to cross the roadway.
  • Hazard light stops where the maximum allowable speed for the street is 35 mph.
  • Hazard light stops where there is no speed consideration.
• All overhead light stops require the bus to be clearly and continuously visible.
  • If the maximum allowable speed is 35, the bus must be clearly and continuously visible for a distance of at least 200 feet from the bus stop.
  • If the maximum allowable speed is over 35 then the clear and continuous distance requirement increases to at least 400 feet.
• At overhead light stops where pupils have to cross the roadway, the school bus MUST stop completely ON the roadway.
• At overhead light stops where pupils do not have to cross the roadway, the school bus may pull off the roadway as far as practicable.
• At overhead light stops where the stop is a combination of both types (pupils crossing and not crossing) the bus MUST stop completely ON the roadway.
• No school bus stops are allowed within 50 feet of any intersection controlled by a traffic signal.
• No school bus stops are allowed within 200 feet of any intersection without the approval of the school administration or transportation contractor.
• All hazard light stops require approval from the school administration or transportation contractor.
• Hazard light stops cannot be used where pupils are required to cross the roadway.
• The rules pertaining to clear and continuous visibility do not pertain to hazard light stops.
• Under the hazard light stop for situations where the speed limit is 45 mph or less, the term "allowing traffic to flow" means that traffic must have the ability to legally maneuver around the school bus which is stopped on the roadway.
  • In addition as it pertains to this type of stop, the phrase "pulled to the far right OF or OFF the roadway or private road" means that the bus may pull to the right and either remain completely ON the roadway or pull off the roadway.
• Under the hazard light stop for situations where the speed limit is over 45 mph, the phrase "leaving the normal traffic flow unobstructed" means that the bus must not stop where any portion of the bus is on the roadway and impedes traffic. Simply put, the bus must be completely OFF the roadway.