School buses, emergency vehicles and trains

Key points

1. Yield to police, fire and ambulance vehicles using a siren, air horn or red or blue flashing light.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “You must yield the right-of-way to a police vehicle, fire engine, ambulance or other emergency vehicle using a siren, air horn or a red or blue flashing light.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

2. Pull to the right edge of the road, or as near to the right as possible, when an emergency vehicle approaches from any direction.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “Pull over to the right edge of the road or as near to the right as possible when you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching from any direction.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

3. If you are in an intersection, drive through it before you pull over.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “If you are in an intersection, drive through the intersection before you pull over.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

4. Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights whether it is on your side, the opposite side, or at an intersection ahead.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “You must stop for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing whether it is on your side of the road, the opposite side of the road or at an intersection you are approaching.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

5. You need not stop for an oncoming school bus if a median or other physical barrier separates the road.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “You are not required to stop if the bus is traveling towards you and the roadway is separated by a median or other physical barrier.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

6. After the red lights stop, wait until children have completely left the roadway.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “After the school bus red lights have stopped flashing, watch for children along the side of the road and do not proceed until they have completely left the roadway and it is safe to proceed.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

7. Drivers passing a vehicle going the same way must yield to it, even if it is slowing or stopping.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “Drivers overtaking a vehicle traveling in the same direction must yield to that vehicle, even if the vehicle is slowing or coming to a stop.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

8. You must yield the right of way to trains crossing the roadway.

   Source: Handbook p. 12

   “You must yield the right-of-way to trains crossing the roadway.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 12

3 questions from the New Mexico practice test

1. 1. When is a driver not required to stop for a school bus displaying flashing red lights?

   1. When the driver is running late for work
   2. When the driver is more than one block from the bus
   3. When the bus is moving in the opposite direction on a road separated by a median or physical barrier
   4. When no children are visible near the roadway
   Show answer

   When the bus is moving in the opposite direction on a road separated by a median or physical barrier. The normal rule is to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, even when the bus is on the opposite side or at an approaching intersection. The specific exception applies when opposing traffic is divided by a median or another physical barrier. The absence of visible children does not remove the duty to stop. Check the roadway design, not your schedule or a guess about where students are, before proceeding past the bus.

2. 2. After a school bus stops flashing its red lights, what must a driver do before moving?

   1. Proceed immediately because the stop is over
   2. Continue only if another vehicle moves first
   3. Pass the bus only after honking twice
   4. Wait for children to leave the roadway and confirm it is safe
   Show answer

   Wait for children to leave the roadway and confirm it is safe. Ending the flashing red lights does not guarantee that children have reached a safe place. The driver must watch for children along the roadside and wait until they have completely left the roadway and it is safe to proceed. The immediate-proceed choice overlooks that second check. Treat the bus area as active until the children are clear, then scan both directions before moving, since a child may be outside the driver's expected path.

3. 3. What does a railroad crossbuck sign mean at a railroad crossing?

   1. The crossing is for emergency vehicles only
   2. The tracks may be crossed without looking
   3. The sign has the same meaning as a yield sign
   4. A speed limit begins at the tracks
   Show answer

   The sign has the same meaning as a yield sign. A white X shaped railroad crossbuck carries the same meaning as a yield sign, so drivers must yield to trains crossing the roadway. It does not grant permission to cross without checking, and it does not create an emergency-only lane or a speed limit. Look and listen for trains, make sure there is room on the far side, and never enter if stopping would leave the vehicle on the tracks. The crossbuck marks the crossing and its required yielding behavior.

Source: the New Mexico Driver Manual, 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.