6.4 School Buses, Emergency Vehicles & the Move Over Law

School Buses

The manual says plainly: drivers must stop for school buses. If a school bus has stopped on the road with its flashing red lights on, as you approach it you must:

• Stop at least 20 feet from the back of the bus if you are behind it.
• Stop at least 20 feet from the front of the bus if you are coming toward it.

You may not start moving again until the bus starts moving or turns off its flashing red lights. Watch for children even after the bus moves on.

The Divided-Highway Exception

If you are on a multiple-lane road divided by a physical barrier, you do not stop when the bus is on the other side of the barrier. Maryland law describes this as a divided highway where the school vehicle is on a different roadway. Traffic behind the bus, on the same side, must always stop. A painted line or a center turn lane is not a physical barrier, so on undivided roads traffic in both directions stops.

Penalties

Passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000 (Transportation Article § 21-706) and 3 points. It is also one of the offenses that can count toward aggressive driving. Many Maryland school buses carry stop-arm cameras that can lead to a citation for the vehicle owner.

The School Bus Stop Ahead warning sign marks where buses regularly stop. Slow down and be ready.

Emergency Vehicles

Emergency vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances and fire engines, have the right-of-way when using their sirens and flashing lights. Immediately after you see or hear one approaching while using its signals, you must:

1. Move as close as possible to the edge of the road.
2. Stay out of intersections. If you are in one, clear it before pulling over.
3. Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.

If you are going in the same direction as an emergency vehicle using its signals, you may not pass it unless it stops or a police officer tells you to. Passing an emergency vehicle in violation of this rule carries 2 points.

Maryland's Move Over Law

The manual's version: you must move over when approaching any vehicle stopped, standing or parked on the road with its lights flashing. If it is not safe or possible to move over, you must slow down to a safe speed, considering the weather, road conditions, traffic and pedestrians.

Under Transportation Article § 21-405, the law covers stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks, service vehicles, commercial vehicles giving roadside help, and waste or recycling trucks using their lights. It also covers any stopped vehicle displaying hazard warning lights, road flares, or caution signals such as traffic cones, caution signs or non-vehicle warning lights. The manual adds that you should move to a lane that is not immediately next to the stopped vehicle.

Move Over Penalties (Misdemeanor)

Points can lead to suspension or revocation of your license.

Passing Crash and Incident Scenes

Emergency scenes often have fluorescent pink incident signs, flares, cones and responders on foot. Slow down early, move over, follow directions from police or fire personnel, and keep your eyes on the road instead of the crash. Rubbernecking causes secondary crashes.

Why These Rules Exist

Children leaving a school bus may cross the road without looking. Police officers, tow operators, highway workers and stranded motorists work only feet from moving traffic, and a crash at highway speed into a stopped vehicle is often fatal. Moving over even one lane greatly increases their margin of safety.

Scenario Practice

1. A school bus stops with flashing red lights on a four-lane road with a painted center line, coming toward you. Stop at least 20 feet from the front of the bus.
2. The same bus is on the far side of a grass median on a divided highway. You do not need to stop, but slow down and watch for children.
3. A siren approaches from behind while you wait at a red light in an intersection's approach lane. Stay out of the intersection; move to the edge only if you can do so safely, and wait until the vehicle passes.
4. A car with hazard lights is stopped on the right shoulder of I-70. Move to the left lane if you safely can; otherwise slow down.