School Bus Safety, It's the LAW

Tualatin Police want to remind drivers it is unlawful to pass a school bus when the red lights are flashing.  All lanes of traffic must stop in both directions and on both sides of the road as long as a painted median strip or turn lane does not create two separate roads. 

In the case of a divided highway with two roads separated by an unpaved median strip or barrier, only those lanes of traffic on the same side of the road as the bus must stop.

School buses have flashing amber and red lights near the top of the bus on the front and rear.  They may be equipped with a stop arm that extends from the bus near the driver's window when the red lights begin to flash as well.  

Flashing amber lights warn surrounding drivers that the bus is about to stop on the road to load or unload children and alert drivers to prepare to stop.  When the red lights flash, drivers must stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the bus driver turns off the flashing red lights.