08/26/2026
Copied from Montana Logging Association
Back-to-school season is almost here! That means school buses are back on Montana roads, making frequent stops to pick up and drop off students.
A few safety tips:
-When backing out of a driveway or garage, watch out for children walking or riding a bike to school.
-When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, slow down and look out for young children. They may or may not be using the appropriate cross walk especially if a child is going to be late to school.
-Yellow flashing lights indicated the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload students. Slow down and be prepared to stop.
-Red flashing lights and extended stop arms/sign indicate the bus has stopped and children are loading or unloading. You must stop and wait until the lights stop flashing red, the extended stop arm/sign is withdrawn and the bus begins to move before you can start driving.
-On divided highways (with a median), you do not have to stop for a school bus, even if the lights are flashing red, as long as you are in the opposing traffic lane. On non-divided highways (example-four lanes with a turn lane) then stopping is required when red lights are flashing even if you are in the opposing traffic lane.
