12.2 Aggressive Drivers, School Buses, Trucks, Buses & Trolleys
Key Takeaways
In Massachusetts drivers must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, whichever side of the road they are on, unless the bus is across a divided highway with a barrier.
A first Massachusetts violation of the school bus stopping law can bring a $250 fine and a license suspension.
On a Massachusetts multilane highway, trucks and buses may drive only in the two right-hand lanes.
If you cannot see a truck's rearview mirrors you are tailgating, and a fully loaded tractor-trailer can take twice as far to stop as a car.
Massachusetts drivers may not drive within eight feet of a trolley's passenger step while it is letting passengers on or off.
The Manual's Road Respect / Sharing the Road section asks every driver to show courtesy, because "more vulnerable users can be seriously injured or killed." This section covers the larger vehicles you share the road with and the drivers who make that harder.
Aggressive Drivers
| Aggressive drivers often... | When you meet one... |
|---|---|
| Cut people off | Get out of the way if you can |
| Speed | Don't challenge them |
| Change lanes without signaling | Avoid eye contact |
| Tailgate | Ignore rude gestures |
| Run red lights | Wear your safety belt to stay in control and protected |
| Block others from passing |
Don't become an aggressive driver. Control your anger and don't escalate. If it is an emergency, call the State Police at 911. State Police patrol highways in unmarked cars looking for aggressive drivers. If you are arrested for aggressive driving, the RMV may review your case and suspend your license and registration before the court date if you are a threat to public safety. Junior Operators convicted of certain violations, such as speeding or drag racing, may also have to complete the SCARR (State Courts Against Road Rage) program (section 8.1).
School Buses
- Yellow school buses have flashing red lights and stop signs that fold out from the driver's side.
- School pupil transport vehicles (vans, station wagons or family sedans) have flashing red lights and SCHOOL BUS signs on top.
- When a school bus or pupil transport vehicle has its lights flashing and a stop sign extended, you must stop. It does not matter which side of the road you are on. Stay stopped until the lights stop flashing or the stop sign folds back.
- Penalty: a first violation can bring a license suspension and a $250 fine.
- After the signals stop, proceed slowly and keep looking for children.
- The only exception: a bus stopped on the other side of a divided highway with a barrier between the directions. Then you do not have to stop.
Warning
A painted center line, a center turn lane or a multilane road without a physical barrier does not count as a divided highway with a barrier. Traffic in both directions must stop.
Trucks and Other Large Vehicles
The Manual calls conflict between large and small vehicles one of the worst sharing-the-road problems.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Blind spots | Large vehicles have blind spots on the right, left, front and behind. Don't follow closely or drive alongside |
| Tailgating | If you can't see a truck's rearview mirrors, you are tailgating and have lost your safety cushion |
| Cutting in front | Trucks keep a space cushion. A large truck may need twice the stopping distance of a car or motorcycle, especially on wet or icy roads. Don't pull in front and slow or stop; the truck may hit you or jackknife braking hard at highway speed |
| Stopping research | National Safety Council and IIHS studies show a fully loaded tractor-trailer may take twice as far to stop as a passenger vehicle |
| Driving too slowly | On a multilane highway, trucks and buses may drive only in the two right-hand lanes: the far right for normal travel and the second for passing. If you are in the second lane, keep up with traffic and don't drop below the minimum speed; slow drivers there bottle up heavy vehicles. Let a truck or bus pass when safe |
| Passing on the left | Passing a tractor-trailer or bus takes longer than passing a car, and the tractor may pull more than one trailer. Large vehicles slow down uphill and speed up downhill |
| Passing on the right | Avoid it unless absolutely necessary. Trucks make wide turns and may move left before turning right. If you're beside one you're probably in a blind spot; stay behind until you know what it is doing |
| Oncoming truck or bus | On an undivided road, stay to the right to avoid a sideswipe or a push from air turbulence. At intersections, judge its speed carefully; trucks can't slow down easily if you cut in front to turn |
Buses and Trolleys
Public buses stop often. Be courteous and let a signaling bus pull away from its stop, and watch for pedestrians getting on and off buses and trolleys.
State law is specific about trolleys and their tracks:
- Don't drive within eight feet of a trolley's passenger step while it is letting passengers on or off.
- Look for oncoming trolleys before crossing any tracks, and don't turn in front of one that is approaching.
- Keep a safe distance from a trolley that shares the road.
A trolley is limited to its tracks, so its driver cannot swerve to avoid you. Red pavement marks transit lanes and stops (section 10.2).
Classroom Scenarios for Large Vehicles
- School bus scenarios. Present a two-lane road, a four-lane road with a painted center line and a divided highway with a guardrail. Only the last one lets opposite-direction traffic keep going.
- The mirror check. Behind a truck, ask: "Can you see its mirrors?" If not, drop back.
- Lane discipline on highways. Explain why trucks are limited to the two right lanes and why a car crawling in the second lane causes problems.
- Aggressive driver role-play. Rehearse the four responses: get out of the way, don't challenge, avoid eye contact, ignore gestures.
A school bus stops on the far side of a four-lane road divided only by a painted double yellow line, with its red lights flashing and stop arm out. What must a driver going the other way do?
Stop only if the bus driver signals with a hand wave
Slow to 20 mph and pass only if no children are visible
Continue carefully, because the bus is on the other side of the road
Stop; only a barrier-divided highway is an exception
On a multilane highway, which lanes may trucks and buses use?
Only the breakdown lane during posted rush hours
Only the far left lane, to keep the right lanes clear for merging traffic
Any lane, as long as they keep to the speed limit
Only the two right-hand lanes
What does the Manual say about driving near a trolley that is letting passengers on or off?
You may not drive within eight feet of the trolley's passenger step
You may pass at up to 10 mph if no passengers are in the street
You must stop at least 100 feet behind the trolley
You may drive on the tracks to pass on the left
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.