School Bus Stop Ahead sign
A school bus stop is ahead at a spot where a stopped bus cannot be seen from far enough away.
What to do
Slow down and be ready to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, as your state's law requires.
Slow down and watch for a stopped bus with flashing lights and children crossing, especially near blind curves and hills.
Where it's used
Section 7B.04 says the School Bus Stop Ahead (S3-1) sign should be installed before places where a stopped school bus cannot be seen far enough ahead and the stop cannot be moved to a better spot. It is a diamond (36 x 36 inches on conventional roads) with a black school-bus symbol on fluorescent yellow-green, as all school warning signs must be. A related SCHOOL BUS TURN AHEAD (S3-2) sign warns of a hidden place where buses turn around.
Don't confuse it with
- School: The pentagon School sign warns of a school area or zone, while this diamond warns of a hidden bus stop.
- Be Prepared to Stop: BE PREPARED TO STOP is a general warning of stopped traffic, not specific to school buses.
- Type
- School signs
- Shape
- Diamond
- Colors
- fluorescent yellow-green, black
- MUTCD code
- S3-1
- MUTCD section
- 7B.04
On state permit tests
Our questions for 6 states ask about this sign, including Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa and Maryland.
Test yourself
What does a SCHOOL BUS STOP AHEAD sign warn of? (Alabama practice test)
- A school bus stop ahead; watch for stopped buses and children
- A school ahead
- Bus station
- Bus lane
Show answer
A school bus stop ahead; watch for stopped buses and children. A school bus stop is ahead; be ready for stopped buses and children.
A SCHOOL BUS STOP AHEAD sign is used when: (Florida practice test)
- An upcoming bus stop may be unexpected or hidden by a curve or hill
- School is in session
- Buses are not allowed on the road
- A school zone speed limit begins
Show answer
An upcoming bus stop may be unexpected or hidden by a curve or hill. It alerts drivers to an upcoming school bus stop that may be unexpected or obscured by a curve or hill.
More school signs
School
School Crossing assembly
School plaque
Reduced School Speed Limit Ahead
School Speed Limit When Flashing
End School Zone
End School Speed LimitFrom the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th edition, section 7B.04. Sign image: public domain, source.