Driving Tests

Maryland School Bus Stop Law: 20 Feet, Divided Highways and Fines

informational·how to guide·Published April 24, 2026

When must you stop for a school bus in Maryland, and what is the fine?

In Maryland, stop when a school bus has stopped on the road with its red lights flashing. Stop at least 20 feet from the rear of the bus if you are behind it, or 20 feet from the front if you come toward it. Wait until the bus moves or the lights go off. A conviction brings a fine of up to $1,000 and 3 points.

Where the Maryland school bus rules come from

The stop rule, the divided highway exception and the fine are in Transportation Article section 21-706. The points are in Transportation Article section 16-402, and the warning, program, suspension and revocation steps are in section 16-404. The school bus driver phone rule is in section 21-1124.2. The Maryland Driver's Manual of the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) gives the same rules in plain words and describes a divided highway and the school zone signs. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Maryland MVA (mva.maryland.gov) before you drive.

Which drivers must stop for a Maryland school bus?

The rule starts when a school vehicle has stopped on a roadway and its alternately flashing red lights are on. It covers the driver of any other vehicle that meets the bus or overtakes it. So drivers who come from behind and drivers who come toward the bus must both stop. The only exception is a divided highway when the bus is on a different roadway.

How far must you stay from a stopped school bus?

How far must you stay from a stopped school bus?
Where you are	What you must do
Behind the bus (you overtake it)	Stop at least 20 feet from the rear of the bus.
In front of the bus (you meet it)	Stop at least 20 feet from the front of the bus.

When can you drive on after a school bus stops?

Stay stopped until the school bus starts to move again or the alternately flashing red lights go off. Until one of these two things happens, you may not proceed. If other cars start to move early, the rule for you does not change. The practice question on the 20-foot stop distance for a school bus tests the stop rule.

Do you stop for a school bus on a divided highway?

Maryland law does not apply the stop rule to a driver on a divided highway if the school bus is on a different roadway. The manual says a divided highway has a guardrail, a strip of land or another barrier between traffic in each direction. It also tells you not to stop on a multiple lane road divided by a physical barrier when the bus is on the other side. The question on a school bus across a physical barrier tests this case.

Quick check: do you stop or drive on?

The bus has stopped on your roadway and its red lights flash

Stop at least 20 feet away, in front of the bus or behind it. Wait until the bus moves or the lights go off.

The bus is on the other roadway of a divided highway, past a guardrail, a strip of land or another barrier

You do not have to stop.

The road has several lanes and only a centerline between opposing traffic

The road is not a divided highway, so you stop. The question on a bus on an undivided road shows this case.

What is the fine for passing a stopped school bus in Maryland?

A conviction for this violation brings a fine of up to $1,000. Maryland law also lists failure to stop for a school vehicle with flashing red lights as a 3-point violation. The points go on your record after a conviction, as of the date of the violation. If several charges come from the same event, the MVA counts points only for the charge with the highest point value. New drivers can read how a conviction affects a Maryland provisional license.

What do points do to your Maryland license?

What do points do to your Maryland license?
Points in any 2-year period	What the MVA does
3	Sends you a warning letter.
5	Requires a driver improvement program. A professional driver with a Class A, B or C license who gives the MVA proof starts at 8 points.
8	Suspends your license.
12	Revokes your license.

School zone signs and speed limits in the Maryland manual

A pentagon (five-sided) sign warns you of a school zone or marks a school crossing.
Fluorescent yellow-green is the color of school, pedestrian and bicycle signs.
Obey speed limits in school zones, so that you have time to see young bicyclists and drive safely around them.

Key takeaways

Stop for a school bus that has stopped on the road with its red lights flashing, if you meet it or come up behind it.
Stay at least 20 feet from the rear or the front of the bus, and wait until it moves or the lights go off.
On a divided highway, you do not stop when the bus is on a different roadway.
A conviction brings a fine of up to $1,000 and 3 points.
Next step: practice these rules on the free Maryland Class C practice test.

Maryland school bus law: common questions

Do I have to stop if I drive toward a stopped school bus in Maryland?

Yes, if you are on the same roadway. The law covers the driver of any vehicle that meets a stopped school bus with flashing red lights, not only drivers behind it. Stop at least 20 feet from the front of the bus. Stay stopped until the bus moves or the red lights go off.

Can you lose your license for passing a school bus in Maryland?

One violation adds 3 points, and at 3 points the MVA sends a warning letter. Points add up over any 2-year period. At 5 points the MVA requires a driver improvement program, at 8 points it suspends the license, and at 12 points it revokes the license. So a school bus violation together with other points can lead to a suspension.

Do school buses stop at railroad crossings in Maryland?

Yes. The Maryland Driver's Manual says that buses, school buses and trucks that carry hazardous materials must stop before every railroad crossing. When you drive behind a school bus near railroad tracks, expect it to stop before the tracks.

Can a Maryland school bus driver use a cell phone while driving?

Not a handheld phone. Maryland law says the driver of a Class H (school) vehicle that carries passengers and is in motion may not use a handheld telephone. The same law does not apply to emergency use, such as a call to 911. This rule is for the bus driver, not for the drivers who stop for the bus.