Stopping for a School Bus Update: When Must You Stop? [PHOTO]

I found a post from the Albany Police Department that surprised me. According to an infographic that they posted on their Facebook page, there are times when you stop for a school bus and times that you don't. I shared it to warn children crossing the street but it may be wrong.

In my original post, I shared the picture and explained the infographic in details in hopes that parents of students in the Capital Region would educate their children in the actual rules of the road according to the Albany Police Department. I always trust our local police departments, especially when it comes to laws and enforcing them so I didn't do research and took them on their word.

After posted the infographic below, I received messages from current and retired bus drivers saying that what the Albany Police Department posted wasn't true at all citing the Department of Motor Vehicles. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles says on their website about passing school buses:

When a stopped school bus flashes its red light(s), traffic that approaches from either direction, even in front of the school and in school parking lots, must stop before it reaches the bus.

 

When you stop for a school bus, you can not drive again until the red lights stop flashing or when the bus driver or a traffic officer signals the you can proceed. This law applies on all roadways in New York State. You must stop for a school bus even if it is on the opposite side of a divided highway.

Based on this, it says you must stop on a divided highway which is not what the Albany Police Department have shared on their Facebook page, that's a highway with a barrier or unpaved median so now I'm confused. I feel as if these laws are rather ambiguous to something that is incredibly important. What is the actual law? We need to know!

NOTE: I have reached out to the Department of Motor Vehicles via Facebook Messenger for clarification on this law. I will update this post when and if I get a response from them.