08/20/2026
Stop and Stay. It’s the Law!
Many students rely on school buses to get them to and from school safely. School buses are designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries, and in every state, stop arm laws exist to protect children from other motorists.
Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicle.
Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Drivers must stop their vehicle before they reach the bus and wait until the lights stop flashing, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving (or the bus driver signals to proceed) before they can start driving again.
Effective 8/28/2026 with the passage of SB 1421, any driver convicted of an offense of failing to stop for a school bus that is receiving or discharging students shall be assessed 5 points. In addition, a driver found guilty of such offense is subject to the following:
First offense: court ordered driver's license suspension, 90 days, or as designated by the court and a fine of at least $500 but not more than $1,000
Second offense within 5 years: suspension of driver's license for 90 days and a fine of at least $1,000 but not more than $2,000
Third or subsequent offense within 5 years: suspension of driver's license for 180 days and a fine of at least $1,500 but not more than $3,000
Penalties are heightened if a child is struck, injured, or killed.
Section 304.050 RSMo: "The driver of a vehicle upon a highway upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children and whose driver has in the manner prescribed by law given the signal to stop, shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus and shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by its driver to proceed."
Therefore, when operating on a two-lane road, with or without a middle turning lane (including a two-lane road that is a one-way street), all drivers must stop their vehicle, regardless of their direction, and wait until the lights stop flashing, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.
On a four-lane road, with a turning lane between, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop but should still use caution in the event children run across the road.
On a four-lane divided highway with a median, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus must stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop.
If traveling through an intersection or 4-way stop, only vehicles traveling toward, behind, or turning into the direction of the school bus must stop. Vehicles traveling non-parallel or turning in the opposite direction of the school bus are not required to stop (for the school bus) but should still use caution in the event children run across the road.
When a school bus is stopped to load or unload children and has not activated their flashing lights or extended their stop arm, such as in a loading zone at a school, drivers are not required to stop but should operate with caution.
When schools are in session, keep an eye out for school buses, children loading or unloading school buses, and children waiting alongside a road for their school bus.
Help promote school bus safety on Missouri highways by proudly displaying a 24" x 18" Stop and Stay for School Buses yard sign in your yard! They are available for free to individuals, schools, or organizations within Missouri.
Requests for signs can be submitted through MoDOT's Highway Safety Online Ordering System at https://www6.modot.mo.gov/HighwaySafetyOrderSystem or by contacting Heather Luebbert with MoDOT's Highway Safety and Traffic Division by email at [email protected] or by phone at (573) 751-5419.
