Driving Tests

New Jersey School Bus Stop Law: When You Must Stop (25 Feet)

informational·how to guide·Published April 22, 2026

When must you stop for a school bus in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, you must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights. Stop at least 25 feet away on a two-lane road, a multi-lane road with lanes separated only by lines, or a privately maintained road, and stay stopped until the bus signals are off. On the other side of a safety island or raised median, slow to 10 mph. Improper passing adds 5 points.

Where these rules come from

This guide follows the "Stop for School Buses" section of the New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), which cites N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.1, and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) points schedule. The school bus fine figure comes from a 2012 New Jersey Department of Education flyer. The rules are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (nj.gov/mvc) before you drive.

When you must stop for a school bus

Stop for any school bus with flashing red lights. You must also stop when a school bus is picking up or letting off children. If you drive behind a bus, do not depend on its lights, because they could be faulty. Watch the bus itself, and stop when it stops for children.

School bus rules on each type of New Jersey road

School bus rules on each type of New Jersey road
Road and your position	What to do
Two-lane road	Stop at least 25 feet away
Multi-lane highway where only lines separate the lanes	Stop at least 25 feet away
Privately maintained road	Stop at least 25 feet away
Dual-lane highway, other side of a safety island or raised median	Slow to 10 mph
Bus stopped directly in front of a school	Pass from either direction at no more than 10 mph

How far away must you stop?

Stop at least 25 feet from the bus. This applies to every driver behind the bus and every driver coming toward it. On a road with no physical barrier between the two directions, you stop whether or not you travel the same way as the bus. Painted lines are not a barrier: on a multi-lane road with only lines between the lanes, traffic in both directions stops. Our free question page on stopping distance from a school bus tests this rule.

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

Only painted lines separate the lanes, with no physical barrier

This is not a divided highway for this rule. Stop at least 25 feet away, in either direction.

You are on the same side of a divided highway as the bus

Stop at least 25 feet away, as you would behind the bus on any road.

You are on the other side of a safety island or raised median

Slow to 10 mph and keep that speed until you are fully past the bus. Our free question page on a bus across a raised median tests this rule.

Passing a school bus stopped in front of a school

A different rule applies when a school bus has stopped directly in front of a school to pick up or let off children, or persons with developmental disabilities. You may pass that bus from either direction, at no more than 10 mph. Our free question page on a bus parked at a school curb tests this case.

What to do when a school bus stops

1
Watch for yellow or amber lights: they come on before the bus stops.
2
When the red lights flash, stop at least 25 feet from the bus, unless one of the two 10 mph cases above applies.
3
Stay stopped until the bus signals are off.
4
Then move on, and watch for children or persons with developmental disabilities near the road.

Penalty for passing a school bus in New Jersey

Improper passing of a school bus (N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.1) adds 5 points to your New Jersey driving record for each offense. For the fine, a 2012 New Jersey Department of Education school bus safety flyer lists $100 for a first offense.

Key takeaways

Stop for any school bus with flashing red lights, and stay stopped until the signals are off.
Stay at least 25 feet away on a two-lane road, a multi-lane road with only painted lines, or a private road, in either direction.
Pass at no more than 10 mph only on the other side of a safety island or raised median, or when the bus is stopped directly in front of a school.
Improper passing of a school bus adds 5 points to your record.
Next step: practice the school bus rule and other road rules on the free New Jersey basic auto learner permit practice test.

School bus law in New Jersey: common questions

Do I stop for a school bus on the other side of the road?

Yes, on a two-lane road, a private road, or a multi-lane road where only painted lines separate the lanes. Stop at least 25 feet from the bus. The exceptions are a dual-lane highway with a safety island or raised median between you and the bus, and a bus stopped directly in front of a school. In both cases you may pass at no more than 10 mph.

What do the yellow lights on a school bus mean?

Yellow (or amber) lights mean that the bus is about to stop. The red lights come on when the bus has stopped, and that is when you must stop at least 25 feet away. When you see yellow lights, slow down and get ready to stop.

Do I have to stop if I do not see any children?

Yes. The flashing red lights are the signal, not the children. A 2012 New Jersey Department of Education flyer warns that driving past a stopped bus with flashing red lights is illegal even when you see no students. The bus driver keeps the red lights on until every student is on the bus or clear of the bus and the road, so wait until they go off.

Do I have to let a bus pull back into traffic?

Yes. New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 39:4-87.1) requires all non-emergency vehicles to yield to a bus that re-enters traffic after it picks up or drops off passengers. Once the bus is back in the normal flow of traffic, you do not have to yield when it changes lanes. A violation can bring a fine of $50 to $200, up to 15 days in jail, or both.

Do school buses stop at railroad crossings?

Yes. In New Jersey, school buses must always stop at railroad crossings. When you drive behind one, be ready to stop, even if no signal shows that a train is coming. Leave room so that you never have to stop your own car on the tracks.