North Carolina DMV Practice Test

Which traffic lanes must stop for a school bus making a passenger stop?

1. All traffic on the street

2. Lanes going in the opposite direction

3. Lanes going in the same direction as the school bus

4. Only adjacent lanes

The correct answer is: Lanes going in the same direction as the school bus

When a school bus makes a passenger stop in North Carolina, it is crucial to ensure the safety of children boarding or disembarking from the bus. The law requires that all traffic lanes going in the same direction as the bus must stop. This rule is in place to protect children, who may be crossing the street on either side of the bus, creating a safer environment as they enter or exit the vehicle. Traffic laws dictate that when a school bus has its flashing lights activated and the stop sign extended, all drivers on the same side of the road must halt to allow students to safely cross. This ensures that kids are not endangered by vehicles moving past the bus while they are in close proximity to traffic. In contrast, the other lanes may have different regulations depending on whether they are separated by a physical barrier, such as a median, but they are typically not required to stop when not going in the same direction as the bus—even though drivers should always exercise caution around school buses regardless.