School bus safety: When it is legal to pass a stopped school bus

NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) -- School bus drivers report millions of illegal passes every school year.[br /][br /]Those illegal passes are dangerous and can sometimes turn fatal, as was the [url HREF="https://abc11.com/4581159" TARGET="new" REL=""]case in Indiana on Tuesday.[/url] A driver hit three siblings at a bus stop; all three of the children died.[br /] [br /]To avoid tragic school bus accidents like that, North Carolina Department of Transportation reminds drivers of the rules of the road.[br /][br /]Passing a stopped school bus is illegal.[br /][br /][url HREF="https://abc11.com/news/governor-to-sign-school-bus-camera-bill-/2248078/" TARGET="new" REL=""]Gov. Roy Cooper signed a law in July 2017[/url] allowing local governments to place video cameras on the outside of school buses to catch drivers dangerously passing.[br /][br /]In different driving scenarios, different rules apply for stopped school buses. The following list should help clarify every scenario.[br /][br /][ul][li]Two-lane road: All traffic must stop.[/li][li]Two-lane road with center turning lane: All traffic must stop.[/li][li]Four-lane road without a median: All traffic must stop.[/li][li]Road with four or more lanes and a median: Only traffic going the same direction as the school bus must stop.[/li][li]Road with four or more lanes and a center turning lane: Only traffic going the same direction as the school bus must stop.[/li][/ul]][br /][br /]NCDOT says if you're ever in doubt, it's always better to stop.