(A) The driver of a vehicle shall stop the vehicle before meeting or overtaking, from either direction, any school bus stopped at any location for the purpose of receiving or discharging pupils. The stop is required before reaching the school bus when there is in operation on the school bus, the visual signals, as specified in 625 ILCS 5/12-803 and 12-805. The driver of the vehicle shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the driver of the vehicle is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated.
(B) The stop signal arm required by 625 ILCS 5/12-803 shall be extended after the school bus has come to a complete stop for the purpose of loading or discharging pupils and shall be closed before the school bus is placed in motion again. The stop signal arm shall not be extended at any other time.
(C) The alternately flashing red signal lamps of an eight-lamp flashing signal system required by 625 ILCS 5/12-805 shall be actuated after the school bus has come to a complete stop for the purpose of loading or discharging pupils and shall be turned off before the school bus is placed in motion again. The red signal lamps shall not be actuated at any other time except as provided in division (D) below.
(D) (1) The alternately flashing amber signal lamps of an eight-lamp flashing signal system required by 625 ILCS 5/12-805 shall be actuated continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the school bus before stopping for the purpose of loading or discharging pupils within an urban area, and during not less than the last 200 feet traveled by the school bus outside an urban area. The amber signal lamps shall remain actuated until the school bus is stopped. The amber signal lamps shall not be actuated at any other time.
(2) The alternately flashing headlamps permitted by 625 ILCS 5/12-805 may be operated while the alternately flashing red or amber signal maps required by that section are actuated.
(E) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway having four or more lanes which permits at least two lanes of traffic to travel in opposite directions need not stop the vehicle upon meeting a school bus which is stopped in the opposing roadway; and need not stop the vehicle when driving upon a controlled- access highway when passing a school bus traveling in either direction that is stopped in a loading zone adjacent to the surfaced or improved part of the controlled-access highway where pedestrians are not permitted to cross.
(Prior Code, § 71.045) Penalty, see § 71.999
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see 625 ILCS 5/11-1414(a) - (e)