When Do You Have to Stop for a School Bus in Missouri & Illinois?

You would hope common sense would kick in, but I've seen enough questionable driving around school buses that it's probably a good idea to take a look at the laws that demand when you must stop for a school bus in Missouri and Illinois.

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Instead of referring to random websites that have covered this very important topic, I've gone directly to the states for answers on when you have to stop for school buses. Here's what the state of Missouri says:

You must stop when -

1. On a 2-lane road where the vehicles travel in either direction.

2. On a 2-lane road that is a one-way street.

It's important to note that the state says you do NOT have to stop when "you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a highway divided by a median where the vehicles traveling one direction are on a totally separate road from the vehicles traveling the opposite direction".

What about the state of Illinois?

It's really not that different. Here's what the state of Illinois says about stopping for school buses:

When a school bus is traveling on a two-lane roadway and is stopped to pick up or drop off pupils, the vehicles in all
lanes of traffic must stop. Vehicles should stop at least
20 feet before reaching the school bus to allow pupils to
cross the roadway safely.

Illinois lays the hammer down on any driver that illegally passes a school bus, too with a "mandatory minimum fine of $300 and 3-month suspension of driver’s license. Second offense or subsequent conviction within five years - mandatory minimum fine
of $1,000 and one year suspension of driver’s license"

Even one accident involving a school bus is one too many. Let's again hope common sense and a knowledge of the law will prevent a tragedy.