CHOKEPOINTS

Video: How to pass school buses safely, legally

Feb 10, 2015, 6:41 AM | Updated: 6:41 am

With Bethel School buses now taking pictures of drivers who pass illegally when the red lights are flashing, drivers should be reminded when they can and cannot pass.

First, if you’re going the same direction as a school bus with its red lights flashing, you cannot pass, even if there are two lanes going in the same direction.

Read the chokepoints series

If you do, you will get a $394 ticket.

Where drivers are often confused is when they approach a school bus from the opposite direction as its flashing red lights are activated.

If it is a two-lane road, just one lane in each direction, that opposing traffic must stop.

But if there are three lanes, a lane in each direction and a dedicated turn lane in the middle, cars going the opposite direction of the bus do not have to stop.

That same rule applies to any road that has three or more marked lanes.

Cars coming from the opposite direction of the school bus also don’t need to stop if there is a median between the lanes or a physical barrier.

Chokepoints

chains...

Nate Connors

No snow, but chains required: WSP checks trucks on Snoqualmie Pass

WSP is conducting a chains emphasis patrol over Snoqualmie Pass on Tuesday and Wednesday.

2 days ago

I-5 Express Lanes remain northbound...

Chris Sullivan

I-5 express lanes reopen southbound after delays caused by signals issue

Even though Revive I-5 finished-up Sunday night and all lanes of northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge opened earlier than expected, the express lanes did not return to normal.

2 days ago

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (4)...

Nate Connors

WSDOT completes Tacoma Narrows Bridge repairs one week early

Pierce County commuters were handed some good news when WSDOT announced that it had completed repairs on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

5 days ago

Photo: Port Townsend/Coupeville ferry routes have been canceled....

Nate Connors

Mukilteo/Clinton ferry service to end early again for repairs

Mukilteo/Clinton ferry service will end early again Friday night as crews finish emergency repairs at the Mukilteo terminal.

5 days ago

wsdot vehicle fire...

MyNorthwest Staff

Semitruck carrying bananas catches fire, blocks lanes on southbound I-5 in Tacoma

A massive commercial vehicle fire is blocking lanes on southbound I-5 in Tacoma.

5 days ago

SR 167 crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

1 killed, 1 in custody after crash on SR 167 in Auburn

Southbound SR 167 is blocked in Auburn after a deadly three-car crash, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson.

5 days ago

Video: How to pass school buses safely, legally