Driving Tests

Arkansas School Bus Stop Law: When to Stop and the 20-Foot Median Rule

informational·how to guide·Published October 3, 2026

When must you stop for a school bus in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, make a complete stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing, in the same lane, the opposing lane or at an intersection. Stay stopped until the bus moves with its red lights off. The only exception: the bus is in the opposite lanes, across a median 20 feet or more wide. Passing a stopped bus can bring a $250 to $1,000 fine and 8 points.

Where the Arkansas school bus facts come from

The stop rule, the 20-foot median rule, the fine and Isaac's Law come from the School Bus Law and Rules section of the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide of the Arkansas State Police (October 2026). The points come from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) violations and points table and its Driver Improvements page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) and the Arkansas State Police before you drive.

Where you must stop for an Arkansas school bus

Where you must stop for an Arkansas school bus
Where you are	Do you stop?
Behind the bus, in the same lane	Yes. Make a complete stop.
In the opposing lane, with no median	Yes. Make a complete stop.
In the opposing lane, with a median less than 20 feet wide	Yes. All lanes of traffic must stop.
In the opposing lane, with a median 20 feet or more wide	No stop required. Drive on with care.
At an intersection with the stopped bus	Yes. Make a complete stop.

How the 20-foot median exception works

The exception is narrow. It covers only drivers in the opposite lanes, on the far side of a median 20 feet or more wide. A driver behind the bus always stops, on any road. With no median, or a median less than 20 feet wide, every lane of traffic stops. Try our free question on a school bus across a median at least 20 feet wide: the answer is that you may continue, but with care.

When can you drive again after a school bus stops?

Do not pass the bus in any direction while it loads or unloads. Two things must both be true before you go: the bus has finished with its passengers, and it begins to move with its red lights off. If the red lights still flash, stay where you are. Our free question on a school bus stopped on an undivided road tests this rule.

What to do when you meet a school bus in Arkansas

1
Watch for the red lights
When a school bus ahead of you or across from you stops with its red lights flashing, slow down and get ready to stop.
2
Make a complete stop
Stop whether you are behind the bus, in the opposing lane or at an intersection.
3
Check for a wide median
You may continue only when the bus is on the opposite side of a median 20 feet or more wide. With a narrower median, or none, all lanes stop.
4
Wait for the bus to move
Stay stopped until the bus has finished loading or unloading and begins to move with its red lights off. Then continue with care.

What is the penalty for passing a stopped school bus in Arkansas?

Passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing is a misdemeanor in Arkansas. On conviction, the driver can get a fine of $250 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both.
If a driver breaks the school bus law and causes the death of a person, the charge is a felony. The study guide lists this as Isaac's Law (section 5-10-105): a driver who negligently causes the death of another person faces a Class C felony for negligent homicide.

Arkansas driver's license points for school bus violations

Arkansas driver's license points for school bus violations
DFA code	Violation	Points
M75	Passing a school bus that displays a warning not to pass	8
N09	Failure to yield the right-of-way to a school bus	3

What do 8 points mean for your Arkansas license?

Each moving violation adds 3 to 8 points, by its severity. When your record reaches 10 points, DFA mails a warning letter. At 14 or more points, a hearing is set automatically, and a driver who does not attend gets an automatic suspension.
Example with your own numbers: with 3 points on your record, 8 more points for passing a school bus (M75) make 11. That is past the warning letter. One more 3-point ticket makes 14 and a hearing. Read more on how points work for new Arkansas drivers.

Key takeaways

Make a complete stop for a stopped school bus with red lights flashing, in the same lane, the opposing lane or at an intersection.
Stay stopped until the bus has finished with its passengers and moves with its red lights off.
Only drivers on the far side of a median 20 feet or more wide may continue. With a narrower median, or none, all lanes stop.
Passing a stopped bus is a misdemeanor: a fine of $250 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, and 8 points (M75). Causing a death is a felony.
Next step: practice on the free Arkansas Class D practice test. It is in English only.

Arkansas school bus law: common questions

Do I have to stop for a school bus on a four-lane road in Arkansas?

Yes, in most cases. Drivers who travel in the same direction as the bus must always stop. Drivers in the opposite lanes may continue only when a median 20 feet or more wide separates them from the bus. On a four-lane road with no median, or with a median less than 20 feet wide, all lanes of traffic must stop.

How much is a ticket for passing a school bus in Arkansas?

Passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing is a misdemeanor. A conviction can bring a fine of at least $250 and not more than $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both. DFA also adds 8 points (code M75) to your driving record. One more ticket of 3 points or more puts you past the 10-point warning letter.

What is Isaac's Law in Arkansas?

Isaac's Law is the name that the Arkansas State Police study guide gives to section 5-10-105. It applies when a driver breaks the school bus stop law and negligently causes the death of another person. That driver faces a Class C felony for negligent homicide. A pass that causes no death is a misdemeanor.

Do school buses have to stop at railroad crossings in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas school buses must stop at all railroad crossings. The rule is for the bus driver, but it affects you too: when you follow a school bus, expect it to stop before every crossing, also when no train is near. Keep enough space behind the bus to stop safely.