Ep. 38 - School Busses and Cop Cars - Can I Pass Them?

Stop creating phantom traffic jams! This week we tackle two traffic situations that confuse drivers everywhere: when you actually need to stop for school buses (hint: not always), and why you don't need to panic-brake every time you see a cop car.

What We Cover: 

• School bus stop sign laws - divided vs undivided roads 

• The 5 MPH speed tolerance reality 

• Different types of law enforcement and their priorities 

• Why highway patrol ≠ local police ≠ private security 

• How fear-based driving creates more accidents than it prevents

Key Takeaway: Drive predictably, know the actual rules, and stop making traffic worse with unnecessary panic responses.

Thanks to Doug for sparking this conversation!

Relevant Links: 

• NHTSA School Bus Safety Guidelines: https://www.nhtsa.gov/school-buses 

• State Traffic Laws Database: https://www.iihs.org/topics/laws 

• DOT Traffic Flow Studies: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/

#TrafficLaws #SchoolBusSafety #DrivingTips #TrafficFlow #RoadSafety #PoliceEncounters #HighwayPatrol #TrafficPsychology #DrivingEducation #PhantomTrafficJams

Chapters

• 0:00 Episode 38 Intro
• 0:42 School Bus Stop Signs - When Can I Pass?
• 1:59 Speed Traps - Highway Patrol
• 2:50 These "Cops" Will NOT Stop You
• 4:09 When You WILL Get Pulled Over on the Highway
• 4:29 Wrap-Up: Driver Judgment on when to Slow Down
• 5:12 Episode 38 Conclusion/CTA

Transcript

Episode 38: School Buses and Speed Traps - Traffic Realities

Opening Hook (30 seconds)

" Welcome back to [Podcast Name]. I'm Randy Keith, and I’ve been chatting with a few close friends about traffic topics that they want to hear on the podcast. So today, my good buddy Doug Marhsall will be featured for bringing up two traffic situations that seem to confuse the hell out of everyone on the road. School busses and Police officers… When you can pass them and when you can’t. And as Doug, Elton and I would say, Yipapapow!

Segment 1: The School Bus Conundrum 

The Basic Rule

"Let's start with school buses and those flashing red stop signs. Here's what most people get wrong - they think EVERY time they see a school bus with its stop sign out, they have to slam on their brakes. Not true."

When You Actually Need to Stop

• Same direction travel: Always stop, no exceptions 

• Opposite direction on undivided roads: Stop completely 

• The key distinction: Undivided means no physical barrier - just painted lines don't count

When You DON'T Need to Stop

• Opposite direction on divided highways: Keep going at normal speed 

• Physical barriers: Concrete medians, metal guardrails, raised dividers 

• Multi-level roads: Overpass situations where you're physically separated

The Reality Check

"Look, I get it - nobody wants to be the person who endangers kids. But creating a 12-car pileup because you panic-stopped on a divided highway isn't helping anyone. Know your local laws, but use common sense. If there's a concrete median between you and that bus, those kids aren't crossing four lanes of traffic to get to your side."

Segment 2: The Cop Situation - Let's Get Real (4 minutes)

The Phantom Traffic Jam Problem

"Now let's talk about the elephant in the room - what happens when people spot a cop car. Doug brought this up, and he's absolutely right. If you're doing 67 in a 65, you do NOT need to slam on your brakes when you see a patrol car."

The 5 MPH Rule Reality

• Under 5 mph over: You're not getting pulled over for this 

• Highway patrol tolerance: Most won't bother unless you're 8-10 mph over 

• The bigger picture: Sudden braking causes accordion effects that create real accidents

Types of Cops and Enforcement Reality

"Here's something most people don't realize - not every badge equals a traffic ticket:"

Highway Patrol/State Troopers

• Primary traffic enforcement: This is their main job 

• Quota pressures: Often have statistical expectations 

• Equipment focus: Radar, laser, mobile units 

• Most likely to pull you over: Especially on interstates

Local Police Departments

• Broader responsibilities: Crimes, domestic calls, community policing 

• Limited traffic focus: Unless it's a specific enforcement campaign 

• Often off-duty mindset: Driving to/from calls, not hunting speeders 

• Exception: School zones and residential complaints

Private Security/Rent-a-Cops

• Zero enforcement power: Cannot issue traffic citations 

• Property-specific authority: Mall cops, campus security 

• Common misconception: People think they can ticket - they can't

The Practical Approach

"Look, I'm not advocating for reckless driving. But here's the deal - if you're going a reasonable speed for conditions, maintain that speed when you see a cop car. The officer behind you going 70 in a 65 isn't radioing ahead to bust you for doing 68."

When Cops Actually Pull People Over

• Egregious speeding: 15+ mph over the limit 

• Aggressive driving: Weaving, tailgating, road rage 

• Equipment violations: Broken lights, expired tags 

• Suspicious behavior: The sudden brake-slam actually draws attention

Segment 3: The Bigger Traffic Psychology (30 seconds)

"Both of these situations boil down to the same thing - people making fear-based decisions that actually make traffic worse. The person who stops unnecessarily for a school bus on a divided highway, or slams their brakes from 67 to 55 when they spot a cop car - they're not being safer, they're being unpredictable."

Closing Thoughts (1 minute)

"Here's my takeaway: Know the actual rules, not the paranoid version everyone seems to follow. School bus laws exist for a reason, but they're specific - learn them. Cops are generally reasonable humans doing a job, not revenue-hunting robots waiting to pounce on anyone going 3 mph over."

"Drive predictably, follow the reasonable interpretation of traffic laws, and stop creating phantom traffic jams because you're afraid of your own shadow."

"That's Episode 38, folks. Thanks again to Doug for the inspiration. these real-world conversations always make for the best content.  So If you've got traffic situations that drive you crazy, hit me up -  freewaytrafficexpert@gmail.com

"Until next time, keep it moving, keep it safe, and for the love of all that's holy, stop hitting your brakes every time you see a police car. We'll catch you next episode."

Total Runtime: Approximately 7 minutes Key Topics: School bus passing laws, police encounter psychology, traffic flow dynamics

Episode 38: Show Notes & Descriptions

Show Notes/RSS Feed Description

Episode 38: School Buses and Speed Traps - Traffic Realities

Stop creating phantom traffic jams! This week we tackle two traffic situations that confuse drivers everywhere: when you actually need to stop for school buses (hint: not always), and why you don't need to panic-brake every time you see a cop car.

What We Cover: 

• School bus stop sign laws - divided vs undivided roads 

• The 5 MPH speed tolerance reality 

• Different types of law enforcement and their priorities 

• Why highway patrol ≠ local police ≠ private security 

• How fear-based driving creates more accidents than it prevents

Key Takeaway: Drive predictably, know the actual rules, and stop making traffic worse with unnecessary panic responses.

Thanks to Doug for sparking this conversation!

Relevant Links: 

• NHTSA School Bus Safety Guidelines: https://www.nhtsa.gov/school-buses 

• State Traffic Laws Database: https://www.iihs.org/topics/laws 

• DOT Traffic Flow Studies: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/

Hashtags: #TrafficLaws #SchoolBusSafety #DrivingTips #TrafficFlow #RoadSafety #PoliceEncounters #HighwayPatrol #TrafficPsychology #DrivingEducation #PhantomTrafficJams

YouTube Description

School Buses and Speed Traps - When NOT to Panic on the Road

Ever slam your brakes when you see a cop car doing 67 in a 65? Confused about school bus stop signs on divided highways? This episode breaks down the traffic situations that cause unnecessary panic and phantom jams.

TIMESTAMPS: 

0:00 - Intro 

0:30 - School Bus Stop Sign Reality Check

 2:30 - The Cop Car Panic Problem 

3:00 - 5 MPH Speed Tolerance Truth 

4:00 - Highway Patrol vs Local Police vs Security 

6:00 - Traffic Psychology & Phantom Jams 

6:30 - Final Thoughts

What You'll Learn: 

✓ When you actually need to stop for school buses 

✓ Why 3 mph over won't get you a ticket 

✓ Which cops actually pull people over for speeding
 ✓ How to drive predictably and safely 

✓ The real cause of phantom traffic jams

Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more real-world driving advice!

Resources: • NHTSA School Bus Guidelines: https://www.nhtsa.gov/school-buses • State Traffic Laws: https://www.iihs.org/topics/laws • Traffic Flow Research: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/

Hashtags: #TrafficLaws #SchoolBusSafety #DrivingTips #TrafficFlow #RoadSafety #PoliceEncounters #HighwayPatrol #TrafficPsychology #DrivingEducation #PhantomTrafficJams

Keywords (500 characters total)

traffic laws, school bus safety, driving tips, speed limits, police encounters, highway patrol, road safety, traffic flow, phantom jams, driving education, speed traps, divided highway, stop signs, local police, state troopers, private security, traffic psychology, safe driving, brake checking, speeding tickets, enforcement, motor vehicle laws, transportation safety, driver behavior, traffic violations, road rules, automotive safety, commuter tips, driving advice