Stop Required When Approaching a School Bus:
When and Where
Illinois law states that it is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to pick up or discharge riders. The school bus stop sign arm must be extended and the lights flashing. It's important to remember that this law applies "at any location". That means that a driver may be ticketed for violating this law when illegally passing a school bus in a parking lot as well as on the roadway.
Drivers who receive a citation for this offense MUST appear in court. Drivers who are convicted of this offense will have their driver’s license suspended for three months - and even longer for a second conviction.
Four-Lane Streets
The driver of a vehicle on a road having 4 or more lanes that permit at least 2 lanes of traffic to travel in the opposite direction, does not have to stop upon meeting a school bus that is stopped in the opposite direction. For example, southbound traffic in the 2400 block of First Avenue (in River Grove) may cautiously proceed driving south when a school bus is stopped in the northbound curb lane with its stop sign extended and lights flashing. In this example, both traffic lanes for northbound traffic (the same direction as the bus) must stop while the bus is stopped to pick up or discharge students (stop sign extended and lights flashing).
Read the Illinois Law
For detailed information on approaching, overtaking, or passing a school bus please click THIS LINK TO THE ILLINOIS LAW (625 ILCS 5/11-1414).