Everyone is responsible for keeping children safe. This is especially true when it comes to Ohio’s school bus traffic laws. Like other states, Ohio traffic laws are intended to protect school children when they get on and off the bus. Ohio drivers are expected to know and follow these rules. Failure to do so could result in severe injuries to children, not to mention substantial legal penalties.

If you are a parent whose child was injured in a school bus accident, the personal injury attorneys at Robenalt Law can help. We have decades of experience representing injured people throughout Ohio and nationwide and can provide advice and legal guidance to help your family move forward after a serious school bus accident.

What Are Ohio School Bus Stop Rules?

Under Ohio law, drivers on a road with three or fewer lanes must stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing. This rule applies whether you approach the bus from the front or behind.

On roads with four or more lanes, only drivers on the same side of the road as the bus are required to stop.

Divided highways are treated the same as a four-lane road.

You should stop your vehicle at least 10 feet away from the bus.

Drivers should remain stopped until the bus turns off its flashing red lights and begins to move or until the bus driver signals you to go.

Failure to stop for a school bus can result in a $500 fine and 2 points on your license. You may be required to appear in court, and the judge could suspend your driver’s license for up to one year.

These rules are in place to protect children. A driver who injures a child while failing to comply with Ohio school bus stop laws could face criminal penalties and civil liability.

When Do You Have to Stop for a School Bus?

When a school bus is on a two- or three-lane road and its red lights are flashing, all drivers must stop. If the bus is on a four-lane road or a divided highway, drivers on the same side of the road as the bus must stop when the red lights are flashing.

School buses must stop at all railroad crossings. Bus drivers use their yellow hazard lights at railroad crossings. Approaching vehicles can pass a school bus when its yellow lights are flashing.

A school bus does not need to be equipped with an extending stop sign to stop traffic. The flashing red lights are sufficient to warn drivers they must stop while the bus is loading or unloading.

A school bus driver will use the yellow flashing to signal they are preparing to stop.

Waiting for a stopped school bus can seem like it takes a while. This is because, under Ohio law, the bus driver must wait until all students are a safe distance from the bus before allowing drivers to proceed.

2025 Updates to Ohio School Bus Stop Laws

Following the August 2024 death of an 11-year-old student who was killed when his bus was passed by an oncoming truck, Ohio legislators are considering increasing the fines for illegally passing a school bus. Under the new law, passing a stopped school bus would be an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no less than $250 and no more than $1,000.

The law would also create a needs-based grant program that would “help school districts invest in school bus safety features such as, but not limited to, seatbelts.” Grants would be awarded to fund the purchase and installation of school bus safety features to replace old, broken, or outdated safety features, and to purchase additional school bus safety options when specifying new school bus orders. The grant program would be funded by “money appropriated to it by the general assembly and the criminal fines collected for violations.”

Families of Children Injured in a School Bus Accident May Be Entitled to Compensation

If your child was injured in a school bus accident, your family may be entitled to compensation. The personal injury attorneys at Robenalt Law have decades of experience representing injured people and the families of people who were killed in motor vehicle accidents. We can analyze your situation, help you evaluate your options, and fight for the compensation you and your family deserve.

Contact Robenalt Law Today

Robenalt Law has offices in Cleveland and Columbus, and handles personal injury claims throughout Ohio and nationwide. Call our Cleveland office at (216) 223-7535 or our Columbus office at (614) 695-3800 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.