School bus with flashing lights at 4-way stop - RedFlagDeals.com Forums (2024)

If a school bus has its flashing lights on and is right at a stop sign, can cars from a perpendicular angle enter/go through the intersection?

Would the car in the diagram be able to go straight or turn left?

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Ge55tbk.png[/IMG]

According the Ontario Driver's Handbook. "You must stop whenever you approach a stopped school bus with its upper alternating red lights flashing, regardless of whether you are behind the bus or approaching it from the front." Nowhere mentioning about perpendicular traffics.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/ ... .5.2.shtml

I would think that since you are not on the same road as the School Bus, you should be OK to fully stop first then proceed with caution. Normally, I don't think the school bus would stop in an intersection like that, this scenario may never happen.

According to the Ontario HTA Section 175(9):

No person shall actuate the overhead red signal-lights or the stop arm on a school bus,

(a) at an intersection controlled by an operating traffic control signal system;
(b) at any other location controlled by an operating traffic control signal system at,
. (i) a sign or roadway marking indicating where the stop is to be made,
. (ii) the area immediately before entering the nearest crosswalk, if there is no sign or marking indicating where the stop is to be made, or
. (iii) a point not less than five metres before the nearest traffic control signal, if there is no sign, marking or crosswalk; or
(c) within sixty metres from a location referred to in clause (a) or (b). R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 175 (9).

Therefore, the school bus driver appears to be violating this Section if he is letting kids on/off with the overhead lights flashing at an intersection with a stop sign.

It doesn't appear that the school bus driver is contravening Sc. 175(9) because that addresses locations where there is an operating traffic signal (lights). Doesn't cover 4-way stops.

His/her rationale may be that it is probably safer than stopping 50m. before or after the intersection and doesn't tie up traffic as much - which might otherwise back up into the intersection as well.

Better that the bus is stopped where all other traffic has to stop anyway rather than between intersections where some drivers may not be as focussed as they should.

Cross traffic should proceed as normal - that is, you go only when no pedestrians are crossing, about to start crossing, or looking as though they may suddenly start crossing.

The bigger danger as I see it is when the bus turns its flashers off - those waiting opposite the bus will be eager to get going again and the perpendicular traffic has to be alert and get into the alternating R.O.W. again smartly.

Mr.Sea wrote: ↑If children are off the bus and trying to cross the street then its a given you should not drive until the way is clear.

You would think. But I see cars totally disregarding the flashing bus stop lights from both front and behind on Lawrence Ave E every day. The area in question has no median barrier. When a car does stop, cars start blaring their horns. People just don't know the rules. They seem to think it only applies in small residential areas.

Why buying a car is so awful

ES_Revenge wrote: ↑Bus driver shouldn't have activated lights there. Regardless you don't need to stop perpendicular to or making a left or right away from the bus. That would be like stopping on a green with the reasoning being that perpendicular traffic has a red, lol.

that 4 way stop with stop signs is not a stop controlled by lights. Therefore the bus can stop there AND use the school bus lights.

commonsense212 wrote: ↑Fight it!

Fight what?

macnu*t wrote: ↑It doesn't appear that the school bus driver is contravening Sc. 175(9) because that addresses locations where there is an operating traffic signal (lights). Doesn't cover 4-way stops.

His/her rationale may be that it is probably safer than stopping 50m. before or after the intersection and doesn't tie up traffic as much - which might otherwise back up into the intersection as well.

Better that the bus is stopped where all other traffic has to stop anyway rather than between intersections where some drivers may not be as focussed as they should.

Cross traffic should proceed as normal - that is, you go only when no pedestrians are crossing, about to start crossing, or looking as though they may suddenly start crossing.

The bigger danger as I see it is when the bus turns its flashers off - those waiting opposite the bus will be eager to get going again and the perpendicular traffic has to be alert and get into the alternating R.O.W. again smartly.

+1

Archanfel wrote: ↑The rule is very confusing. I don't think the school bus should stop there. It should either stop earlier so that any turning vehicle would have a chance to react to it after completing the turn, or just stop in the intersection so that everybody stops for it. A cop on the highwaysafety forum said at least the left turn is fine, but I'd stop myself just to be sure. You never know where the kids will run.

How confusing?

DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT it means when a SCHOOL BUS STOPS WITH LIGHTS FLASHING????? IT'S ALL TRAFFIC!!!

That's confusing when you don't understand what ALL Traffic must stop.

AV-Fishing wrote: ↑How confusing?

DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT it means when a SCHOOL BUS STOPS WITH LIGHTS FLASHING????? IT'S ALL TRAFFIC!!!

That's confusing when you don't understand what ALL Traffic must stop.

Are you a school bus drive who has no better things to do than replying to an over 4 years old post?

Archanfel wrote: ↑Are you a school bus drive who has no better things to do than replying to an over 4 years old post?

Someone replied today ... so i'd figure to get in on it ...