When traveling in the opposite direction, when does a driver not have to stop for a stopped school bus?

When a driver is approaching a stopped school bus from the opposite direction on a multi-lane highway, they are typically not required to stop if there are multiple lanes traveling in different directions and there are clear indicators that the bus is on the other side of a physical divider (like a grassy median) or if the bus is stopped only in the lanes opposite to the driver. This is because the law generally mandates stopping for school buses in the same lane and direction of travel; however, the guidelines can vary based on local traffic laws.

On multi-lane highways, the separation of lanes indicates that traffic moving in the opposite direction can proceed without stopping for the school bus, provided there are no specific road signs indicating otherwise. In contrast, on two-lane roads, stopping is usually required regardless of direction to ensure the safety of children boarding or alighting from the bus.