Most Texans live busy, productive lives that take them out on the roads, often at the same time school buses are transporting children to and from school. While it can be frustrating to be stuck behind a large yellow bus making frequent stops when you are trying to get to work or an appointment, it’s crucial for all drivers in Texas to know and follow the state’s laws for sharing the road with school buses carrying, picking up, and dropping off vulnerable children. This includes the critical laws governing when and how you can safely pass or overtake a school bus.
When a driver ignores those rules, the results can be catastrophic. An Addison bus accident lawyer can help the families left dealing with the aftermath understand what comes next.
Can You Overtake or Pass a School Bus In Texas?
Texas school buses are equipped with visual signals, including flashing warning lights on the roof, sides, front, and back of the bus. Buses also have stop signs that extend and retract on the side of the bus. Many buses are also equipped with extendable bars or “arms” on the bus’s door where children load and disembark.
Drivers may only legally pass a school bus when the bus is in motion, does not have its flashing stop lights on or sign extended, and it’s a safe passing zone. You may also pass if the school bus driver waves you forward and the way is clear.
What Does Texas Law Say About Overtaking a School Bus?
Under Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.066. PASSING A SCHOOL BUS, the law states the following:
- All vehicles approaching from both directions must stop when a school bus stops to pick up or drop off a child, with its lights flashing, stop sign activated, and arm extended. Only vehicles moving in the opposite direction on a divided highway with a median may continue driving
- Drivers may only proceed after the children have safely boarded or exited the bus, the driver has turned off the flashing lights and withdrawn the stop sign from the side of the bus, and has continued moving
In spite of these clear rules for sharing the road with school buses, there were an alarming 3,358 school bus accidents with 85 serious injuries and 7 deaths in 2025, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT).
Illegally passing a school bus is not only a serious traffic violation, but a misdemeanor crime in Texas, with fines of $1,250 for the first offense and increasing fines and license suspension for subsequent offenses. If the violation causes bodily injury, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor or felony.
How to Safely Share the Road With Texas School Buses
Drivers should always keep a safe following distance when traveling behind a school bus in the same lane, keeping in mind that buses make frequent stops. It’s also crucial to watch for children at roadside bus stops and when they cross the street, as school buses are on the move in the mornings and afternoons.
Come to a complete stop when a school bus displays its visual signals and stops to load or unload children, unless you are on the opposite side of a divided highway with a median in between.
Drivers must carefully stay within the speed limit when driving in school zones, and remain prepared to stop for children.
In Texas, illegally overtaking a school bus can cause harm to a child or pedestrian, cause a rear-end collision with a school bus, and leave the driver liable for damages and subject to legal consequences for the violation.