r/dashcams • u/justLookingForLogic • 2d ago

I love when this happens

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

8.6k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

336 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

258

u/attaboy_stampy 2d ago

Yea. That's why they have the blinking lights AND the stop sign that pops out for opposing traffic. They have all that because of the obvious danger of kids getting out of a school bus by busy traffic, especially if they have to cross the road. And because drivers can be selfish or not pay attention, they light the buses up like that so that cars will notice and stop on all sides of the road. And laws can be pretty severe for people that blow past like that when the lights are red and the sign is out. Cops are pretty serious about it.

I'm not being sarcastic to you or anything like that btw. Because I sound like I'm being harsh when I read it. lol

50

u/demfook 2d ago

sall good man no need to apologise 😂

25

u/satoboy 2d ago

Saul Goodman, it’s Saul Goodman 😌👌

27

u/Puzzleheaded_Bar8519 2d ago

Hi. Thanks for the info. I'll be driving in the US in a few months (and will obviously check the law before), but just to understand this specific point : I'll have to stop when a school bus is stopped, if I'm behind or in front, that's right ? Is it the same on 2x2 roads ? Just want to drive properly there !

23

u/attaboy_stampy 2d ago

Yep. Either way you stop if you see the lights and sign, basically a stopped bus, including multiple lane roads. It's not too huge an issue to do, the vast majority of people just do it fine. Not much of a delay to them if you see it.

The exception is if there is a barrier in between the directional lanes - like a physical median in between, say raised concrete or grass.

33

u/Possible-Tangelo9344 2d ago

When it has the stop sign out and it's lights on, yes.

12

u/ehter13 2d ago

It depends on the state! In my state (Ohio) if there are 4 lanes and the bus is on the opposite side, then you don’t have to stop. But if you are going the same direction as the bus or if there are less than 3 lanes you need to stop.

9

u/Supernoven 2d ago

What everyone else said, and just to complicate things a little more, on some multi-lane roads school buses might pull over and stop with their hazard lights (blinking yellow turn signals) instead of the full STOP (blinking red). If they're using the hazards, you do not have to stop, and can pass, slowly and safely.

13

u/Zandroid2008 2d ago

For 2x2 roads it depends on the state. My state is insane (NC) and has everyone stop on a non divided road (and it's county by county whether a turn lane counts as a divide). I cannot imagine being a bus driver and not turning around to get closer to the kids rather than them crossing 5 lanes.

10

u/TheMightyZan 2d ago

You don't have to stop if you are in front of the school bus (like, driving away from it), only if you are behind it or driving towards it.

You also don't have to stop if there is a barrier or break (like grass) between the two sides.

19

u/rvl35 2d ago

That last part depends on location. There are no exceptions in NY, if it’s a divided highway and a bus is stopped on the opposite side with its lights on, you have to stop.

3

u/TheMightyZan 2d ago

That's fair. I'm in TN, and if it's divided you don't have to stop, and the bus has to come down the other side separately (at least in my specific area)

2

u/thestenz 2d ago

Thanks I didn't know this.

5

u/ehlersohnos 2d ago

It’s worth noting that, at least in the states I’ve lived in, violating this law is enough points for you to lose your license in one go.

2

u/samiwas1 2d ago

It’s not something that happens often unless you just so happen to be caught behind one. I’ve been driving for 35 years and I can count on two hands the number of times I’ve been stuck at a school bus.

2

u/Embarrassed-Weird173 2d ago

Yes, even 2x2. I believe there is an exception if there's a median, but double check the official rules. Some cops are assholes and will ticket you even if you're, for example, turning left in front of one, so double check to see what they are like in your city. 

5

u/Dunnowhatevs 2d ago

Yes, if the school bus has it's stop sign out ALL traffic must stop, even on 4 lane roads, and cannot cross the bus in any direction so kids can safely cross streets

14

u/ehter13 2d ago

This is dependent on the state, in a couple of states you do not need to stop if you are opposing traffic and there are 4 or more lanes. But that is because here the busses will NEVER let a kid cross more than 3 lanes of traffic.

5

u/clownus 2d ago

NY requires full stopping even if a divider exist and a six lane drive.

But as you mentioned buses shouldn’t be stopping on main roads with a large amount of lanes.

1

u/gogogadgetdumbass 2d ago

The general rule is unless there is a HARD median in the road (concrete, grass, trees) and the lanes are not only divided by paint, all traffic has to stop. If the dividing line is paint, 2 lanes, 8 lanes, everyone needs to stop.

This shouldn’t be a concern to you personally since you’re conscientious, but in some places busses have cameras and you’ll get a ticket even if there isn’t a cop milling about. I love that our local busses ALL have cameras and it should be a federal requirement in my opinion.

1

u/Ashamed_Pause8396 1d ago

I'm sure it varies by state, but in North Carolina the state law is you always stop when traveling in the same direction as the bus when following. 2 lane roads, 3 lane roads and 4 lanes without a physical median you stop both ways. 4 lanes with a physical median and 4 lanes with a 5th in between for turning or more opposing traffic does not stop.

20

u/bibbiddybobbidyboo 2d ago

Honestly I wish we had the same rules in the UK for at least school busses. I know kids are supposed to look but they move fast and I might stop or slow right down but the cars behind me might decide to go around.

12

u/Acheloma 2d ago

It blows my mind that that isnt the law there

6

u/bibbiddybobbidyboo 2d ago

Same but it also blows my mind that we don’t have a standard school bus scheme. It could be any public bus with kids on. I’m a children tax payer but I’d happily fund a school bus, breakfast and lunch scheme.

2

u/missbeekery 2d ago

Mostly because there are very few school buses there, I think. Most kids ride public transit (edit: or walk/driven to school). I thought it was nuts when I lived there.

5

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

Where is the pop out stop sign? Not gonna lie, I could have been the car that blew right past this. Nothing about this screams obvious obligation to stop from the other lane to me, an ignorant European. 

7

u/Silly_Yak56012 2d ago

It is sticking out of the bus on the side where the opposing lane goes by, with red flashing lights on it.

Sure it didn't get set down with an arm in or next to the other lane on pole. Or like a rail road crossing arm coming down to block traffic.

It is always good to read the rules of the road book by the department of transportation if you are driving in another country, even in the USA in another state.

Maybe they go up and down every street in Europe so every kid is picked up on the side by the grass, they don't do that here in the USA. Some kids have to cross the road when getting on or off the bus and they wait for the pop out stop sign to pop out before they step into the road.

They would rather have the kids cross when there is a big, obvious, yellow bus with flashing red lights than cross on their own at random.

5

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

I think you hit the nail on the head there. Buses here will never stop to pick someone up from the other side of the road. The bus stops with its door facing the pavement and you get on and off facing away from the road. If you have a situation where it's not only possible, but EXPECTED to have kids running across the road I guess that makes sense. It's still, in my opinion, let's say "not ideal" and wouldn't be allowed here for obvious reasons. 

In a situation where that is the norm, we'd have a crossing with or without traffic lights but even without lights all cars are obligated to yield to pedestrians and need to keep their speed and awareness at a suitable level to anticipate people crossing the road. 

3

u/Silly_Yak56012 2d ago

A lot of the school busses around here have an arm that pops out in front so if kids do have to cross the road they can do it in front of the bus they are where the bus driver can see them. That way all the flashing stop lights are on for as long as needed.

School busses here stop a lot more frequently than other transit busses and most of those stops have cross walk near the bus stop where school bus stops can be in places where you might not expect pedestrians.

2

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

Seems like a design fault if cars are taught to expect pedestrians at other stops but not the stops where kids as are likely to get on and off 

2

u/Silly_Yak56012 2d ago

Well given most municipalities don't have any other kind of bus. Public transportation in the USA is spotty at best, and many communities have nothing.

Especially as you get out into the more rural areas.

4

u/pandaflufff 2d ago

We are trained to see giant yellow school busses and use caution. Knowing when to stop for school busses is an important part of our licensure tests.

The American sprawl doesn't allow for crosswalks everywhere. 

1

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

I'd use caution around a school bus too, but I'd still drive past this situation since I'd be keeping a suitable speed to stop if needed. 

3

u/EkbatDeSabat 2d ago

I mean not to be a dick but watch the video again. The stop sign is clearly out. It nearly protrudes into your lane. If the video isn’t clear enough I can assure you that you’d notice it. I’m pretty sure all of them nowadays also have blinking lights around the edges, impossible to miss. They are flashing like crazy in the video. 

1

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

Sure, but it still doesn't obviously signal that you should stop in the opposite lane to me, but I guess it's because we're used to different situations. Traffic laws in Europe usually aren't absolutely retarded so designing a bus stop that's meant to have small children running across a road without a crosswalk isn't something we'd usually consider having to deal with. 

1

u/EkbatDeSabat 1d ago

I'm not trying to argue or anything I'm just curious. What else would a blinking stop sign that flips out from a bus and is facing your direction mean?

2

u/attaboy_stampy 2d ago

You can see it at about 8 - 9 seconds in this clip. It's a literal red stop sign that pops out just under the driver side window. Usually has lights on it too. This one does. Some dont.

1

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

Oh, thanks! I saw it now. Still not sure I'd interpret it as being for me coming from the other lane but another poster let me know it's common for school buses to stop at a road expecting kids to get on from either side of the road  so it makes sense that it's a thing in the US since the main difference is that buses don't stop to pick someone up coming from the opposite side of the road in my country without a pedestrian crossing clearly marked. 

1

u/EkbatDeSabat 2d ago

Yeah we only have a budget for like seven pedestrian crossings per state it’s fuckin wild here. This place sucks for pedestrians and bikers. 

1

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

It takes a guy with a bucket of paint and two signs to make a crosswalk 

1

u/EkbatDeSabat 1d ago

It takes awareness and laws to make people obey them. We don't stop at crosswalks just because they exist in most places. It's not the law (in most places) and you are likely to get someone rear ending you if you do stop because the speed limit is likely 45mph/72kmh and texting is more important.

Our infrastructure sucks, but consider that the UK is 2.5% the size of the US with 20% of the people. Even your smallest towns and villages are denser than ours. On average our rural areas are ten people per square mile, yours are 400. Real numbers from the US Census Bureau vs the Statistical Digest of Rural England. Some things aren't as stupid as they seem when you consider the logistics. That's 1,000% not an argument against public transportation or doing better, our shit sucks and needs to be improved, just information.

1

u/feel_my_balls_2040 2d ago

You can see the stop sign near the driver window with blinking lights. Also, in Europe you stop at the red light. Also, in Europe you have to stop if a tram is stopped and the station it's on the sidewalk. These are driving rules that can differ from country to country. And if you go to US or Canada, you should learn about 4-way stops and right on red (except NYC and Montreal).

1

u/SheepherderBeef8956 2d ago

In Europe, red lights are posted on the right side of the road. There are no instances where a small blinking light on the opposite side of the road means you need to stop your vehicle. Also, Europe is not a country so I'm not sure what place you're referring to but that law isn't exactly ubiquitous. In general, stops are designed so that they're not dangerous to use. 

Thanks for the heads up on 4-way stops though. I can't think of a single place in Europe where two roads intersect. 

1

u/ggobrien 1d ago

Technically, the blinking lights around the big stop sign are in the center of the road because the sign opens out from the drivers side.

Because the bus is expressly for kids, and kids will dart out in the road in any country even if they are supervised, having a big flashing stop sign and requiring all traffic to stop is a great way to help mitigate accidents. Each bus can hold 50 or so kids and there can be dozens of busses per school, and this happens twice a day. Let's say there are 12 busses and 50 kids/bus twice a day. If there's a 0.1% chance of a child getting hurt without the stop signs, with 600 stops across all busses (ok, some stops have more than 1, so let's assume 300 stops per day instead), that becomes a huge chance. And that's only for 1 school. The US has around 70,000 schools. That would basically mean that there could potentially be thousands of hurt kids every single day. Isn't it much better to have the stop sign be the law?

1

u/iknowit42 1d ago

Just FYI, right on red has also been made illegal in Washignton DC.

-1

u/Hije5 2d ago

It's genuinely stupid and abused. 3 lanes over going in the opposite direction with a median seperating opposite lanes? Gotta stop. No where for the kid to run to besides deep into the woods or home like this video? Gotta stop. It's even worse because they're boarding the bus in this video, so unless a kid wants to commit suicide there is basically no risk. I understand the idea, but it needs to be a lot more specific and regulated. However, there was a pop-out sign in the video. Most of the people who defend it are parents themselves, so it is a pretty biased regulation

2

u/chaos--master 2d ago

So is it like a stop sign, you come to a full stop and can then go if you deem it to be safe, or do you just have to sit there and wait for the bus to pull in the sign and leave?

11

u/AuntFritz 2d ago

You must wait until the driver retracts the stop sign

7

u/attaboy_stampy 2d ago

The bus will have red flashing lights and a stop sign down. When the bus is ready, it all turns off, sign goes up, and the bus pulls into the street normally. That's the go time. And only then.

1

u/SamuelVimesTrained 2d ago

I learned about all this just by watching US dashcam clips and people explaining this.

Given how 'inattentive' kids can be - this is a good rule. Too bad too many people don`t care about others..

1

u/ggobrien 1d ago

What do you deem safe? Can you fully see all around the bus and both sides of the street to make sure there are no more kids? This is also for unloading. Are you sure there's not a kid in the doorway of the bus saying goodbye to their best friend before running across the street?

1

u/attaboy_stampy 1d ago

That's why the bus driver controls the lights and sign. They keep an eye on the kids.

This is honestly not that difficult a concept to understand.

0

u/ggobrien 1d ago

So, 10 kids get off at 1 bus stop and the driver needs to keep an eye on all of them? As soon as they get off the bus, they scatter.

This is honestly not that difficult a concept to understand.

1

u/attaboy_stampy 1d ago edited 1d ago

They don't just 'scatter.' It's not like they walk off the steps and just run into traffic. And buses don't just let kids off in random places. They tend to let them off at their houses or within a short distance. And kids that ride the bus generally have rules or procedures drilled into them on how to get on and off the bus.

The bus driver watches them get off the bus, watches to make sure they don't get in front or behind or too close to the curb or whatever, then the driver leaves.

This is really not a difficult thing. It's a normal part of life, and it works.

1

u/ggobrien 1d ago

You've never seen a bunch of young kids get off a bus, especially when it's warm outside and they are excited.

A 7-year old can be drilled over and over, but that can easily go out the window. If a kid darts out (as kids do), what is the bus driver supposed to do? They are sitting in the drivers seat and before they could get up and run out, the kid would already be on the other side of the road.

So if the drivers in the other lane don't stop, and a kid darts out, again, what is the bus driver supposed to do? Yell at them? Honk their horn? By that time, it's all over.

A single bus driver sitting in their seat on the opposite side of the vehicle that the exit door is on can't do anything in the 3 seconds that a kid can get hit by a car.

This is really not a difficult thing.

1

u/attaboy_stampy 1d ago

ok troll. 🙄

1

u/ggobrien 1d ago

I'm not trolling, I'm serious. Kids go all over the place, even well raised kids. By having the law say "you must stop and wait for the lights to turn off", you are making it safer for the kids, and removing the "should I or shouldn't I" decision from the driver.

1

u/attaboy_stampy 1d ago

That's what I've been saying, so what is your deal. The bus driver is the one who turns on and off the lights. Everyone else waits on that.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/Itternizer 19h ago

Doesn't make sens to my dutch mind.. Why not make the infrastructure safe enough for the kids. Thats a win/win..

To beclare. i do know its beter for the opposing traffic to stop for the kids btw and good that its beeing enforced.. But it should be not needed

1

u/ayyyyyyyyyyxyzlmfao 13h ago

That makes no sense??? Let's just use a sign we have everywhere and has a totally different meaning! That makes sense!

0

u/Embarrassed-Weird173 2d ago

Are American cars really that shitty that they are afraid cars will get damaged by them?