What are the rules if a school bus is extending its stop signs?

QThe morning school bus heading south on Almaden Expressway stops in front of Office Max at the intersection with Blossom Hill Road. The bus turns on its red flashing lights and extends its stop sign. Are all the southbound lanes of Almaden Expressway required to stop? — Sheila Conry, San Jose

AYes, yes, yes! There have been several tragic stories nationally in recent weeks of kids being killed or injured as they prepare to get on or off a school bus. Here are the rules in California:

• Do not pass a school bus with its flashing red lights and stop sign extended in either direction on an undivided highway. If there is a median divider like on Almaden, stop in all lanes if traveling in the same direction as the bus.

• Be prepared to stop if you see a school bus that has its flashing yellow lights activated. School bus drivers use their yellow flashing lights to warn motorists of an upcoming stop.

• Obey the speed limit, whether it be 25 mph or 15 mph. Kids are quick and don’t always think before running into the street.

• Fines can hit $1,000. And be warned. Many bus drivers carry cameras to take photos of those who do not stop.

QYou had a letter from a driver concerning traffic control on the Dumbarton Bridge involving several Caltrans trucks and the CHP. He thought that was excessive. By his comments, it would seem he never really worked in situations where traffic doesn’t pay any attention to what’s going on around them.

While I was working for an electrical contractor in downtown San Jose, I had a traffic control sign for drivers to stop or slow down. It was amazing how many drivers almost hit me. Lives matter, not money. — Gary McDowell, San Martin

AAnd …

QA simpler answer to the guy’s question would be because drivers no longer pay attention.

Q Folks, this man is an expert.

A

I know San Jose has many streetlight mounted cameras. My daughter was sideswiped on W. Santa Clara Street near Highway 87 when someone tried to get in her lane. They pulled over and he said “sorry about that” and gave his ID but no insurance info. Says he had it at home. There were no injuries involved.

But after he got home, he changed his story and now says it was my daughter’s fault. We have reported to our insurance, but I’m afraid it is now “he said, she said.” Wondering if we can request video from a streetlight camera to help our case? — Susan Caul, Fremont

ASorry, but these cameras are used only for traffic signal use and do not record video on incidents like this. Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/ mr.roadshow, follow him at Twitter.com/ mrroadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup. com. Contact Gary Richards at grichards@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5037.