South Carolina permit test: school buses & emergency vehicles

Stopping for school buses, yielding to emergency vehicles and move-over laws. 6 questions.

Question 1 of 6
School buses & emergency vehiclesSouth Carolina rule

On a two-lane road, a school bus stopped in the opposite lane has its stop arm out. What must you do?

Keyboard: press 1–4 or A–D to answer, Enter for the next question, S to save, R to read aloud, P to pause reading, L to listen and answer.

Sample school buses & emergency vehicles questions

  1. School bus stopped with red lights flashing on a two-lane road; you approach from the opposite direction
    View diagram
    School bus stopped with red lights flashing on a two-lane road; you approach from the opposite directionYouRed lights flashing, stop arm out

    On a two-lane road, a school bus stopped in the opposite lane has its stop arm out. What must you do?

    • A Slow down and pass carefully
    • B Stop, even though the bus is across the road
    • C Stop only if you see children crossing
    • D Keep going, since the bus faces the other way
    Show answer

    B. Stop, even though the bus is across the road

    On any two-lane highway, you must stop for a stopped school bus whether you are behind it or meeting it. Stay stopped until the lights stop flashing and the stop arm is withdrawn, then go slowly, watching for children.

    Source: South Carolina Driver's License Manual, page 84

  2. School bus stopped with red lights flashing on a four-lane road with no median; you approach from the opposite direction
    View diagram
    School bus stopped with red lights flashing on a four-lane road with no median; you approach from the opposite directionYouTwo lanes each wayRed lights flashing, stop arm out

    You are on a four-lane highway with two lanes each way. A school bus stopped with its red lights flashing is in the lanes going the other way. What must you do?

    • A Stop until the bus turns off its lights
    • B Pull onto the shoulder until the bus leaves
    • C Stop only if the road has no median
    • D You do not have to stop, but drive carefully
    Show answer

    D. You do not have to stop, but drive carefully

    You do not have to stop when meeting a stopped school bus from the opposite direction on a multi-lane highway, which South Carolina defines as four lanes with at least two in each direction. Drivers behind the bus must still stop.

    Source: South Carolina Driver's License Manual, page 85

  3. A school bus ahead of you is preparing to stop and has its amber (yellow) lights flashing. What does South Carolina law require?

    • A Speed up to pass before the red lights start
    • B Pass with care if no children are in sight
    • C Do not pass it, and stop once its red lights flash
    • D Change lanes and keep going if there is room
    Show answer

    C. Do not pass it, and stop once its red lights flash

    Amber lights mean the bus is about to stop: you must not pass it. Once the bus stops with its red lights flashing, you must stop and wait until it moves or the red lights go off.

    Source: South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles website

  4. When do you NOT have to stop for a school bus that is loading students?

    • A When it is in a loading zone off the road and no one may cross
    • B When you are directly behind it on a four-lane road
    • C When its red lights are flashing but its arm is in
    • D When it is stopped on a two-lane road and you are the oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    A. When it is in a loading zone off the road and no one may cross

    You need not stop when the bus is in a passenger loading zone completely off the main travel lanes and pedestrians are not allowed to cross the road. In nearly every other case, you must stop.

    Source: South Carolina Driver's License Manual, page 84