Stopping for school bus

[dad4mnc]

I drive down Imperial Hwy in Brea daily. There is a school bus stop. Imperial Hwy has a center divider at this location (not curbed but a merge "lane" with double yellow on each side. I have seen Brea PD cite west bound drivers passing the bus when the stop sign is out and lights flashing if they pass. My question is do the cars traveling east bound need to stop? TIA.

[IrishJoe3]

Undivided highway, (ie no physical divider)? Yes, both directions are required to stop.

[hitman13]

Undivided highway, (ie no physical divider)? Yes, both directions are required to stop.

Pretty much this in every state that I am aware of....

[Ribkick]

Correct me if I'm wrong, (I know you will) but a double yellow is to be treated as a physical divider much in the same way a solid white is to be treated as a curb.

[Fundamentals]

The rule of thumb is: if it would be very hard to physically move the car over to the other side, such as a curb, then you do not have to stop. If the center was dirt (like much of I-14 outside of Lancaster), then that would count as well. Just yellow lines, as far as I know, do not count.

Be grateful, years ago, it used to be even if there was a curb, you had to stop, until some representative's mother got a traffic ticket.

[Librarian]

VC says

22454. (a) The driver of any vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking, from either direction, any schoolbus equipped with signs as required in this code, that is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading any schoolchildren and displays a flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 25257, if equipped with a stop signal arm, visible from front or rear, shall bring the vehicle to a stop immediately before passing the schoolbus and shall not proceed past the schoolbus until the flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, if equipped with a stop signal arm, cease operation.

(b) (1) The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway or multiple-lane highway need not stop upon meeting or passing a schoolbus that is upon the other roadway.

(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, a multiple-lane highway is any highway that has two or more lanes of travel in each direction.

So, what's the definition of 'divided highway'? VC doesn't seem to want to provide a definition in the usual place, but uses the term in several places:

21651. (a) Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways

by means of intermittent barriers or

by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway,

it is unlawful to do either of the following:

(1) To drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section.

(2) To make any left, semicircular, or U-turn with the vehicle on the divided highway, except through an opening in the barrier designated and intended by public authorities for the use of vehicles or through a plainly marked opening in the dividing section.

(b) It is unlawful to drive any vehicle upon a highway, except to the right of an intermittent barrier or a dividing section which separates two or more opposing lanes of traffic. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), a violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor.
...

By your description, might be that the place you mean is a divided highway.

[Dutch3]

VC says So, what's the definition of 'divided highway'? VC doesn't seem to want to provide a definition in the usual place, but uses the term in several places: By your description, might be that the place you mean is a divided highway.

I'm not so sure, Librarian.

It sounds like the OP is describing a "merge lane" (i.e., a center left turn lane).

The definition you provided states that in order for it to be a "dividing section" of a "divided highway", it would be illegal to drive a vehicle over, upon or across it. That would not describe a center turn lane, as it is obviously legal to drive in it.

I think the determining factor in this case would be if the center lane has broken double lines (turn/merge lane) or solid double lines (center divider).

[ke6guj]

VC says So, what's the definition of 'divided highway'? VC doesn't seem to want to provide a definition in the usual place, but uses the term in several places: By your description, might be that the place you mean is a divided highway.

actually, it would be a multiple-lane highway if there are at least 2 lanes in each direction so the OP shouldn't need to stop if they are on the other side of the road.

[P5Ret]

what's the definition of 'divided highway'?

Divided highway needs to have a center divider with or without turn lanes, or double double solid lines they are supposed to be 24" minimum separating the lines (someone correct me if I got that part wrong). Two or more lanes in each direction also I believe.

[Dutch3]

Geez, I think we need a flowchart...

[Librarian]

I drive down Imperial Hwy in Brea daily. There is a school bus stop. Imperial Hwy has a center divider at this location (not curbed but a merge "lane" with double yellow on each side. I have seen Brea PD cite west bound drivers passing the bus when the stop sign is out and lights flashing if they pass. My question is do the cars traveling east bound need to stop? TIA.

So, since it seems to be pertinent: you say "double yellow on each side" -- are they SOLID double-yellow,

or some other double yellow?

Maybe you could pull up Google Maps and give us an exact location, like http://maps.google.com/maps?q=imperi...alifornia&z=14

[dad4mnc]

Here it is. The bus stops in front of the apartment complex on the south side of the street. Thanks for all the help!

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1415+W+Imperial+Hwy,+Brea,+CA&hl=en&ll=33.917402,-117.921066&spn=0.009028,0.01929&sll=33.917358,-117.921056&sspn=0.00455,0.009645&oq=1415+W+Imperial+Hwy,+Brea,+CA&t=h&hnear=1415+W+Imperial+Hwy,+Brea,+Orange,+California+92835&z=16

[9mmepiphany]

Based on that streetview picture, I'd say you should stop until the bus retracts it's stop sign

[Librarian]

Here it is. The bus stops in front of the apartment complex on the south side of the street. Thanks for all the help!

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1415+W...nia+92835&z=16

So, I see 3 lanes each way, which appears to be the second exception in 22454(b)(1)

(b) (1) The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway or multiple-lane highway need not stop upon meeting or passing a schoolbus that is upon the other roadway.

(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, a multiple-lane highway is any highway that has two or more lanes of travel in each direction.