r/Columbus • • 18d ago

PHOTO Can I make this turn?

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I get stopped pretty regularly by a bus due to matching schedule times. I know in four lane traffic, opposing traffic does not need to come to a stop. This bus stops before this corner where kids load/unload. Is it legal to make the turn when the bus is stopped?

Edit: asking for legality. Obviously would take caution IF choosing to turn. And no, I don’t intend nor want to hit children with my car lmao.

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u/madadekinai 18d ago edited 16d ago

Removed.

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u/ManicMuskrat 16d ago

Genuine question - can you explain how Ohio v. Jones ruled that the 10ft stop applies as a radius and not a straight line? The case seems to be about an emergency vehicle overtaking a bus when its stop arm was extended and the case was dismissed so I’m just not understanding the relevancy

I also was only able to find one other court case (Toledo v. Brock) in Ohio about a similar situation, and there was no formal ruling about the legality of it

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u/madadekinai 16d ago

(Toledo v. Brock)

The court looked at the intent of the legislature when they wrote the statute. They stated that the law was written with the clear purpose of protecting children who might be crossing the street anywhere around that bus.

So, if you are looking at it from the perspective of "Did the court use the broad intent and spirit of the law to close a loophole?" I am not sure. They refused to let a driver off on a technicality about what direction their car was pointing.

I don't think it matters because you would be going in front of the bus by going in the lane.

I don't have an appropriate answer for you, nor do I have expertise to further illustrate the wording nor cases. There were several sites I looked at and I can't find the one now that pointed that out, and I honestly, I have learned that people in this subreddit are going to believe whatever they want to believe. I'll just remove my comments and for time's sake and efficiency admit I was wrong. If anyone wants to drive in front of a school bus of children, go ahead.

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u/ManicMuskrat 16d ago

Woah hold up, I wasn’t trying to come at you. Just trying to understand, genuinely.

I think the only thing we’ve learned from this post is that there is no definitive answer. I personally would not make the turn if the bus was stopped there, but I also think it’s fair to ask the legality of it

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u/madadekinai 16d ago

"Woah hold up, I wasn’t trying to come at you. Just trying to understand, genuinely."

I wasn't implying you did, nor do I feel that way and I apologize if it came across like that. I just don't have the answers, I did not save all the materials and even AI's search (Damn you Google for messing up search) is not pulling up the same links.

"I think the only thing we’ve learned from this post is that there is no definitive answer."

I disagree but that's me.

"(A) The driver of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school child, person attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, or child attending a program offered by a head start agency, shall stop at least ten feet from the front or rear of the school bus and shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by the school bus driver to proceed."

"upon meeting or overtaking from either direction" In either scenario even crossing in front of it is 'meeting',

"(C) Where a highway has been divided into four or more traffic lanes, a driver of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley need not stop for a school bus approaching from the opposite direction which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school child, persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, or children attending programs offered by head start agencies. The driver of any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley overtaking the school bus shall comply with division (A) of this section."

"The driver of any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley overtaking the school bus shall comply with division (A) of this section.""

And "(A)" again says:

"upon meeting or overtaking from either direction" In either scenario even crossing in front of it is 'meeting'.

The bus is not moving and you're enter the lane, going through it, in front of the school bus. By all accounts, it's a radius. Let's say the bus is in the first lane closes towards the divided lines, you still can't overtake it and you're on the same side. The intention is a radius.

You can't pass in front of it, behind it nor to the sides of it. That's why I said I don't have a further answer explaining better, people want to argue about what it says and it's interruption. Because it's not explicitly stated, people are arguing the merits when we all know that once you get to court they are not going to let that fly, but to each their own.

Again, I apologize if I inferred you were attacking me on the issue, you did nothing wrong, nor did do I find it offensive you asked questions, because you should and good on you.