Driving Tests

Tennessee School Bus Law: When You Must Stop and When You Don't

informational·how to guide·Published April 19, 2026

When must I stop for a school bus in Tennessee?

Stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and its stop arm out. Drivers from all directions stop and stay stopped until the arm is pulled back and the bus moves. Only traffic on the other side of a highway divided by a median or a barrier need not stop. The Driver License Manual lists a $250 to $1,000 fine, and a violation adds 8 points.

Where the Tennessee school bus rules come from

The stop rules and the fine come from the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, which the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) lists on its forms and publications page. The text of the manual is current as of July 1, 2022. The 8 points come from Rule 1340-01-04 (the Schedule of Points), and the rules for teen drivers with points come from the TDOSHS driver improvement points page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (tn.gov/safety) before you drive.

Meeting a school bus or coming up behind one

Red flashing lights with the stop arm out mean that the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. If you meet the bus, slow down and stop completely while the stop arm is out. If you come up behind it, do not pass it, and stop completely while the bus is stopped. When the bus stops at an intersection, drivers from all directions stop. In each case, stay stopped until the stop arm is pulled back and the bus starts to move.

Do you stop? Tennessee school bus situations

Do you stop? Tennessee school bus situations
Situation	What to do
You are behind a bus with red lights flashing and the stop arm out	Stop completely. Do not pass.
You meet the bus on a road with no median or barrier	Stop and stay stopped until the stop arm is pulled back and the bus moves.
The bus stops at an intersection to load or unload children	Drivers from all directions stop.
You meet the bus on a four-lane highway with a center turn lane	Stop in both directions. A center turn lane is not a barrier.
You meet the bus on a highway with separate roadways divided by a median space or a barrier that vehicles cannot use	You need not stop, but go on with caution.

Do I stop on the other side of a divided highway?

It depends on what divides the road. If the highway has separate roadways for the two directions, with a median space or a barrier that vehicles cannot use, the driver on the other side need not stop but should go on with caution. A turn lane in the middle of a four-lane highway does not count as a barrier. It counts as a fifth lane that vehicles can use, so drivers in both directions must stop. The question on which road lets you go on past a bus facing you tests the grass-median case.

What to do when you see a school bus

1
Slow down at the yellow lights
Yellow flashing lights on the front and back of the bus mean that it is about to stop for children. Slow down and get ready to stop.
2
Stop when the red lights flash and the arm is out
Stop completely, whether you meet the bus or come up behind it. Do not pass it on either side.
3
Stop far enough back
Many schools teach children to take five giant steps away from the bus as soon as they get off. Stop far enough back to leave that space clear.
4
Wait for the bus to move
Do not start until the red lights are off, the stop arm is pulled back and the bus moves.

Why children near a stopped school bus are at risk

Children face the greatest risk while they get on or off the bus. The children killed in bus-related crashes are mostly five to seven years old and on foot, hit by the bus itself or by a driver who passed it illegally. The area on all sides of the bus is a danger zone: children should stay ten feet away from the bus and never go behind it. The question on where to stop when children get off a bus practices this space rule.

Fine and points for passing a stopped school bus in Tennessee

Fine and points for passing a stopped school bus in Tennessee
Item	What applies
Offense level	Class A misdemeanor (Driver License Manual)
Fine	$250 to $1,000 in U.S. dollars (Driver License Manual)
Points on your record	8 points for passing a stopped school, church or youth bus that is taking on or letting off passengers (Rule 1340-01-04)
Driver 18 or older	6 to 11 points in 12 months bring an advisory letter. 12 or more points in 12 months bring a notice of proposed suspension.
Driver under 18	6 or more points in 12 months bring a notice of proposed suspension, so one 8-point violation is enough.

School buses at railroad crossings

School and church buses must stop before every railroad crossing, with or without passengers. Near a crossing, the bus pulls to the right with its stop lights on. This is a clear signal, day or night, that the bus is about to stop, so be ready to stop behind it.

Key takeaways

Stop when a school bus has red lights flashing and the stop arm out, from the front or from behind. Stay stopped until the arm is pulled back and the bus moves.
On a highway divided by a median or a barrier, traffic on the other side need not stop. A center turn lane is not a barrier, so traffic stops in both directions.
A violation is a Class A misdemeanor with a $250 to $1,000 fine and 8 points. For a driver under 18, one violation is enough for a notice of proposed suspension.
Next step: test yourself on the school bus rules with the free Tennessee Class D practice test. The questions are in English only.

Tennessee school bus law: common questions

Do I have to stop for a school bus with yellow lights flashing?

Not yet, but slow down and get ready to stop. Yellow flashing lights on the front and back of the bus mean that it is about to stop to load or unload children. The full stop starts when the red lights flash and the stop arm comes out. The yellow-light bus question lets you practice this.

Can I pass a stopped school bus on the right?

No. It is illegal to pass a school bus that has stopped to load or unload students, on either side. The right side is also where children get on and off the bus. Stay behind the bus until the stop arm is pulled back and the bus moves.

Can I go if the school bus driver waves me on?

Yes. The manual's school bus warning-light section lists a wave from the bus driver as one sign that you may go on. Its main stop rule says to stay stopped until the stop arm is pulled back and the bus moves. Before you go, look for children in the space around the bus.

Do I stop for a church bus in Tennessee?

Yes, when its red stop lights flash and the stop arm is out. The Tennessee stop rule covers church buses the same as school buses: a driver who meets the bus stops, and a driver behind it must not pass. The 8 points for passing a stopped bus also apply to church buses and youth buses.

Do I stop for a city bus that is picking up passengers?

No. You do not have to stop for a transit (city) bus that has stopped to pick up or drop off passengers, and you may pass it. The stop rule is for school buses and church buses. Still, be very careful near the bus, and watch for passengers, including children, who cross the road.

Can a teen lose a license for passing a school bus?

Yes. The violation is 8 points, and a driver under 18 with 6 or more points in 12 months gets a notice of proposed suspension. The teen then goes to an administrative hearing with a parent or guardian. With 6 to 9 points, driving privileges may be suspended for 3 to 6 months. See how points affect Tennessee teen drivers.