Colorado POST Practice Exam

When a school bus activates its lights and sign, when can you continue driving?

1. When on a rural road

2. When on a divided highway

3. When at a stop sign

4. When no children are present

The correct answer is: When on a divided highway

When a school bus activates its lights and stop sign, it is a signal for all motorists to stop, regardless of the surrounding environment. The act of stopping is crucial for the safety of children who may be boarding or disembarking from the bus. On a divided highway, however, there are specific circumstances to consider. If the highway has a physical barrier separating the lanes of traffic, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus do not need to stop. This means that if you are driving on the same side of the divided highway as the bus and it has activated its lights, you must stop. But if you are traveling on the opposite side of the divided highway away from the bus, you are legally allowed to continue driving without stopping, as long as the barriers prevent any possibility of children crossing in that direction. The other scenarios presented do not address the critical safety measures required when a school bus is active. On a rural road, for instance, there are typically no explicit separations, and stopping is a requirement. Similarly, at a stop sign, traffic must come to a halt regardless of the bus, and if no children are present, it does not negate the law requiring vehicles to stop when the bus displays its signals.