School buses, pedestrians and bicyclists

Key points

1. Stop for a school bus loading or unloading from either direction, unless you are on the opposite side of a road with four or more lanes.

   Source: Handbook p. 81

   “You must always stop before reaching any school bus from either direction when it is stopped to load or unload school children except when you are on the opposite side of a highway having four or more lanes, even then proceed slowly.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 81

2. Overhead flashing yellow lights come on about 10 seconds before the red lights: prepare to stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 89

   “They will be activated approximately 10 seconds prior to the overhead flashing red lights”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 89

3. Do not proceed until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is retracted.

   Source: Handbook p. 89

   “You must not proceed until the red lights have stopped flashing, and the stop arm has been retracted, then proceed cautiously.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 89

4. Passing a stopped school bus, first offense: a $115.00 to $230.00 fine, 30 to 60 days in jail, or both.

   Source: Handbook p. 90

   “shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than $115.00 nor more than $230.00, or imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days, or both.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 90

5. Yield to any pedestrian in a crosswalk, and never pass a vehicle stopped to let a pedestrian cross.

   Source: Handbook p. 95

   “You must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian within a crosswalk, stopping if necessary. • You must not pass a vehicle stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the highway.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 95

6. Give bicyclists at least 3 feet when passing, and change lanes if the lane is too narrow to share.

   Source: Handbook p. 96

   “This law requires drivers to change lanes (including when there is a double yellow line) when passing bicycles if the travel lanes are too narrow for sharing. Motorists must give bicyclists at least three (3) feet of room when passing.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 96

7. Do not honk at a bicyclist unless there is imminent danger.

   Source: Handbook p. 96

   “Motorists are forbidden from honking their horn at bicyclists unless there is an imminent danger.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 96

8. All persons under 18 must wear a bicycle helmet.

   Source: Handbook p. 99

   “All persons under the age of 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 99

9. An orange triangle marks a slow moving vehicle: slow down immediately.

   Source: Handbook p. 102

   “When you see this sign, slow down immediately and proceed with caution.”
   Delaware Driver Manual, Handbook p. 102

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Delaware practice test

1. 1. On a Delaware road with fewer than four lanes, who must stop for a school bus displaying flashing red lights and its stop arm?

   1. Only vehicles traveling toward the bus
   2. Only vehicles traveling behind the bus
   3. Traffic approaching from both directions
   4. Only vehicles in the bus's immediate lane
   Show answer

   Traffic approaching from both directions. On a roadway with fewer than four lanes, vehicles in both directions must stop before reaching a school bus that is loading or unloading children. The exception for traffic moving the opposite way applies only when the vehicle is on the far side of a divided highway with four or more lanes, and even that traffic must proceed slowly. A clear lane or absence of visible children does not cancel the stop. Watch for the yellow warning lights, prepare early, and remain stopped until the red lights end and the stop arm retracts.

2. 2. When is a Delaware driver required to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian?

   1. Only when the pedestrian is using a traffic signal
   2. Only when the pedestrian is walking on the driver's side
   3. When the pedestrian is within a marked or unmarked crosswalk
   4. Only after the pedestrian has crossed halfway
   Show answer

   When the pedestrian is within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Delaware gives pedestrians the right-of-way when they are within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A signal is not the only circumstance, and neither side of the roadway nor a halfway point changes the duty. Slow before the crosswalk, scan for people who may be partly hidden, and be ready to stop. A horn can warn someone, but it cannot replace yielding when a pedestrian is crossing.

3. 3. When a Delaware driver passes a bicycle in a lane wide enough to share, what minimum clearance is required?

   1. Three feet
   2. Two feet
   3. One foot
   4. Six feet
   Show answer

   Three feet. Delaware sets a three-foot minimum when a vehicle passes a bicycle without changing lanes in an unusually wide travel lane. The driver must also slow down during that pass. One or two feet leaves the cyclist too close to the vehicle, while six feet is not the stated minimum. If the lane is too narrow for safe side-by-side travel, the driver must completely change lanes, even across a double yellow line. A practical cue is to assess the lane before overtaking: share only when there is room, reduce speed, and preserve three feet throughout.

Source: the Delaware Driver Manual, Section Four: Rules of the Road. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.