Pedestrians, school buses and emergency vehicles

Key points

1. At intersections without signals, pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks have the right of way.

   Source: Handbook p. 46

   “At intersections without traffic signals, pedestrians have the right of way if they are in marked crosswalks or in unmarked crosswalks”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 46

2. If the light changes while a pedestrian is still in the street, let them finish crossing.

   Source: Handbook p. 46

   “If a traffic signal changes to yellow or red while any pedestrian remains in the street, drivers must allow the pedestrian to complete the crossing safely.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 46

3. The maximum speed limit for a school bus is 45 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “The maximum speed limit for a school bus is 45 mph.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 47

4. When a school bus shows its stop signal or flashing red lights, do not pass until the signal is withdrawn, the lights are off and the bus moves.

   Source: Handbook p. 47

   “must stop and not attempt to pass the school bus until the mechanical stop signal is withdrawn, the flashing red lights are turned off and the bus has started to move.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 47

5. On a four-lane road without a median, traffic from both directions must stop for the bus.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48

6. On a divided highway of four or more lanes with a median, only traffic following the bus must stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation: When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48

7. As an emergency vehicle approaches from ahead or behind, drive to the right edge and stop completely. Stay stopped until it passes or a traffic officer directs you to move.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “As the emergency vehicle approaches (from ahead or behind), drive to the right-hand curb or edge of the road and stop completely; • Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed, or until directed to move by a traffic officer;”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48

8. Do not park within 100 feet of an emergency vehicle stopped to investigate a crash or give help.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “Do not park within 100 feet of an emergency vehicle that has stopped to investigate an accident or to give assistance;”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48

9. Never drive over a fire hose.

   Source: Handbook p. 48

   “Never drive a motor vehicle over a fire hose.”
   North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48

Numbers to know

3 questions from the North Carolina practice test

1. 1. An emergency vehicle approaches from ahead or behind. Until when must a driver remain stopped after moving aside?

   1. Until the driver behind begins moving
   2. Until the emergency vehicle turns off its headlights
   3. For exactly thirty seconds
   4. Until the vehicle passes or a traffic officer directs movement
   Show answer

   Until the vehicle passes or a traffic officer directs movement. After moving to the right-hand curb or edge and stopping, the driver must remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed or a traffic officer directs the driver to move. The following driver cannot give permission to proceed, and a fixed thirty-second pause may be too short or unnecessarily long. Headlight use is not the release signal. Watch the responding vehicle and any officer managing the scene. The practical sequence is pull right, stop completely, wait for the vehicle to clear, and then follow lawful directions before reentering traffic.

2. 2. What should a driver do when an authorized emergency vehicle approaches with its warning equipment operating?

   1. Speed up to clear the lane
   2. Move right and stop until it passes
   3. Stop in the center of the intersection
   4. Follow immediately behind it
   Show answer

   Move right and stop until it passes. The emergency response rule requires a driver to yield room for the authorized vehicle by moving toward the right side and stopping until it has passed, unless a law enforcement officer directs otherwise. Accelerating creates conflict, stopping in the intersection can block the route, and following behind the emergency vehicle is unsafe. Scan mirrors as well as the road ahead so the move begins before the emergency vehicle reaches your position.

3. 3. How close may you park to an emergency vehicle stopped to investigate an accident or give assistance?

   1. Not within 25 feet
   2. Not within 10 feet
   3. There is no distance rule
   4. Not within 100 feet
   Show answer

   Not within 100 feet. A driver may not park within 100 feet of an emergency vehicle that has stopped to investigate an accident or provide assistance. The distance protects responders and leaves room for other emergency equipment to approach or work. The 25-foot and 10-foot alternatives are smaller distances and therefore do not meet this rule. Parking farther away is the safe choice when a response scene is visible. Do not use the stopped vehicle as a landmark for a quick roadside stop: continue beyond the 100-foot buffer and keep the access area open for the emergency operation.

Source: the North Carolina Driver Handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving. 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.