Ask a Trooper

Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol

Question: Hello, we read your column every week. I’ve noticed more often lately on numerous occasions that when a school bus is stopped and dropping-off or picking-up kids, they do NOT have their red lights flashing or their STOP arm extended. The bus will only have the yellow lights flashing. When searching the internet for school bus rules/regulations I can only find information related to how other drivers are required to respond, rather I’m interested in what the bus driver is required to do. I was unaware that there are potential scenarios where the bus driver is not required to force traffic to stop.
My question: What are the rules/regulations with respect to a school bus that is stopping to drop-off or pick-up kids, when are they required to activate the red flashing lights and extend the STOP arm, rather than just activating the yellow flashing lights?
Answer: Thank you for the question and I am glad to hear that you read the articles. When transporting children to and from school in most scenarios they are to use the red lights and stops arms. Here is a list according to state law, when school bus drivers shall not activate the prewarning flashing amber signals or flashing red signals and shall not use the stop arm signal:
• in special school bus loading areas where the bus is entirely off the traveled portion of the roadway and where no other motor vehicle traffic is moving or is likely to be moving within 20 feet of the bus;
• when directed not to do so, in writing, by the local school board;
• when a school bus is being used on a street or highway for purposes other than the actual transportation of school children to or from school or a school-approved activity, except for regularly scheduled recreational or educational activity;
• at railroad grade crossings;
• when operating the bus under a “special event;” and
• when loading and unloading people at designated school bus stops where people are not required to cross the street or highway, while the bus is completely off the traveled portion of a roadway that has adequate shoulders. The driver shall drive the bus completely off the traveled portion of this roadway before loading or unloading people. A school bus stop is designated under this clause if the transportation director of the school district in which the bus stop is located, in consultation with the road authority, certifies the integrity of the shoulder and the safety of the location for loading and unloading people. Each designated school bus stop must be documented and approved by the school board.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).