§ 39-10-46 — Overtaking and passing schoolbus

1. The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking from either direction any schoolbus
stopped on the highway shall stop the vehicle before reaching the schoolbus when
there is in operation on the schoolbus the flashing red lights or the stop sign on the
control arm specified in section 39-21-18, and the driver may not proceed until the
schoolbus resumes motion, the driver is signaled by the schoolbus driver to proceed,
or the flashing red lights and the stop sign on the control arm are no longer actuated.
2. Every schoolbus must bear upon the front and rear thereof plainly visible signs
containing the word "SCHOOLBUS" in letters not less than eight inches [20.32
centimeters] in height. When a schoolbus is being operated upon a highway for
purposes other than the actual transportation of children either to or from school or for
a school-sanctioned activity, all markings thereon indicating "SCHOOLBUS" must be
covered or concealed.
3. The operator of a schoolbus equipped with amber caution lights may activate those
lights at a distance of not less than three hundred feet [91.44 meters] nor more than
five hundred feet [152.4 meters] from the point where schoolchildren are to be
received or discharged from the bus.
4. Every schoolbus must be equipped with a stop sign on a control arm and red visual
signals meeting the requirements of section 39-21-18, which may only be actuated by
the driver of the schoolbus whenever the vehicle is stopped on the highway to receive
or discharge schoolchildren.
5. The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with separate roadways need not stop upon
meeting or passing a schoolbus which is on a different roadway or when upon a
controlled-access highway and the schoolbus is stopped in a loading zone which is a

part of or adjacent to such highway and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross
the roadway.
6. Every schoolbus must bear on the rear of the bus a plainly visible sign containing the
words "THIS SCHOOLBUS STOPS AT ALL RAILROAD CROSSINGS".