Texas School Bus Laws

School buses carry precious cargo. Yet, all too often, drivers engage in dangerous and reckless practices around school buses that increase the risk of bus accidents. One of the most common mistakes is passing a stopped school bus. This puts children who are boarding or leaving the bus at risk of being struck by a car. Learn Texas’s school bus laws to find out when you can pass a bus and when you have to stop, as well as your rights if your child gets injured in a school bus accident.

When Can Drivers Pass a School Bus?

Passing a school bus illegally is an extremely dangerous maneuver that puts students at risk of being hit by a car. Unfortunately, many drivers are too impatient to wait behind a school bus while it is loading or unloading students, leading to illegal passing. Other drivers may not understand Texas law and may mistakenly believe that they have the right to pass the bus.

In Texas, it is against the law to pass a school bus – on either side – that is actively loading or unloading students. This is the law in all 50 states. In Texas, passing a school bus that is loading or unloading passengers can lead to a fine of up to $1,250. Drivers that are behind a school bus in Texas must wait for the school bus to finish unloading or loading students before passing the bus, and only pass when it is safe to do so.

When Must Drivers Stop?

All drivers in Texas must stop when a school bus turns on its flashing red lights or uses its stop sign. Drivers traveling on either side of the road must come to a complete stop. The only time a driver does not have to stop for a bus that is using its lights or stop sign is when the road is separated by a physical barrier, such as a median.

In this scenario, drivers traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop for the school bus. Note, however, that a left turn lane is not enough to consider the road separated. When a driver is legally required to stop for a school bus, he or she cannot pass the bus until the bus has resumed driving or no longer has its flashing lights or stop sign activated.

What Are the Rules in School Zones?

A school zone is a place with an increased risk of child pedestrian collisions due to its location in front of or nearby a school. School zones are marked by lights that flash when the school zone is active (when children are entering or leaving the school), crosswalks, and crossing guards. School zones have reduced speed limits to help improve student safety. In Texas, the speed limit in a school zone is 20 miles per hour when the school zone is active. All drivers must reduce their speeds to meet this limit when the lights are flashing, or face a $200 fine.

Who Is Responsible for a School Bus Accident?

It is critical for drivers to obey all of Texas’s school bus laws. Failing to do so can lead to a catastrophic or fatal collision with a student who is getting on or off of a bus. If a driver in Texas breaks the law by failing to stop, passing a school bus or speeding in a school zone, that driver will be legally and financially responsible for a related collision. This means that driver’s auto insurance will be responsible for paying for the victim’s injuries, medical bills or funeral expenses.

If your child was recently injured in a school bus accident, discuss your personal injury or wrongful death case with a bus accident attorney in Houston. You may have grounds to bring a lawsuit against the driver, the school that owns the bus, the government or another party. An attorney will have the resources to investigate the bus accident and form a compelling case against the correct defendant(s) on your behalf.