When is it necessary to stop for a school bus in Texas?

In Texas, it is required to stop for a school bus any time it is stopped, regardless of which direction you are coming from. This law is in place to protect children who may be getting on or off the bus, ensuring their safety. When a school bus is stopped, it activates its flashing lights and extends its stop sign, signaling that drivers must halt their vehicles. This is crucial even if you are not directly behind the bus; drivers approaching from the opposite direction are also required to stop unless there is a physical barrier, such as a median. This law ensures that all children are safe during these critical moments of boarding and exiting the bus, highlighting the importance of vigilance around school transport areas. Other responses that suggest stopping only under specific conditions, such as red lights flashing or when children are crossing, do not fully encompass the law's requirements, which applies broadly whenever a bus is stopped for passenger safety.