When are you allowed to overtake a school bus?

Overtaking a school bus is a situation that requires careful consideration of safety laws designed to protect children. You are permitted to overtake a school bus when there is an unpaved median that is at least 5 feet wide. This is crucial because such a median acts as a buffer zone separating opposing traffic, which helps ensure the safety of children who may be entering or exiting the bus.

In areas without this safety measure, the potential for accidents increases significantly when children are nearby. Therefore, the law is structured to prioritize safety by allowing overtaking only when it is clear that the risk is minimized, as in the case of an adequately sized unpaved median.

In other scenarios, like when the bus is stopped or on a one-way street, the rules require you to remain stopped, underscoring that the presence of children is a critical factor in these laws. The option of never being allowed to overtake a school bus is too restrictive and does not take into account specific safe conditions under which overtaking can occur.