On an undivided road, a school bus ahead stops with its red warning lights flashing. How much space must you leave before reaching it?
Correct answer: At least 20 feet.
Stop at least 20 feet before the bus. Stay stopped while its red warning lights are operating; do not move closer just because the doors have closed.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-1903 (1)(a); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
An oncoming school bus has stopped with red lights flashing on a five-lane road. The center turn lane is painted, with no physical median. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop; the painted center lane does not create the physical-separation exception.
The current school-bus rule defines separate roadways by a physical division such as a median or barrier. Lane count or an ordinary painted turn lane does not by itself qualify. Stop at least 20 feet from the bus.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-1903 (1)(a), (4); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
A school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on the opposite roadway of a highway, beyond a raised median that physically divides the roadways. Does its stop signal require you to stop?
Correct answer: No, the bus is on a different, physically separated roadway.
The exception applies when the bus is on a different roadway physically separated as the statute describes. Remain attentive to people and traffic; it is not permission to cross the median.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-1903 (4); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
You have stopped correctly for a school bus. The last child has boarded, but its red warning lights are still flashing. When may you proceed?
Correct answer: After the red warning lights stop flashing and the way is safe.
You must remain stopped until the bus's visual stop signals are no longer operating. The apparent end of boarding does not override active red lights.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-1903 (1)(a); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
You are behind a school bus on a divided highway. It stops in your roadway with its red lights flashing. Can the median excuse you from stopping?
Correct answer: No; the bus is on your roadway, so you must stop at least 20 feet away.
The physically separated-roadway exception does not apply to traffic on the same roadway as the stopped bus. A second lane on your side is not a passing exemption.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-1903 (1)(a), (4); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
A disabled car displays hazard lights on the shoulder of a two-lane-per-direction highway. You can safely change lanes and no officer directs otherwise. What should you do?
Correct answer: Move into the lane away from the stopped car and proceed cautiously.
Colorado's move-over protection includes stationary motor vehicles displaying hazard or warning lights. Where the same-direction lane is safely available, move away with due care rather than treating the rule as limited to police or tow trucks.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-705 (2)(a)(IV), (2)(b); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
You cannot safely move over for a stopped tow truck with flashing yellow lights on a road posted 35 mph. Conditions do not require a lower speed. What speed does the law presume safe for passing it?
Correct answer: 25 mph or less.
When the limit is below 45 mph and moving over is not possible, the statutory safe-speed presumption is 25 mph or less. Conditions can require still slower travel; this is not a universal 20-mph reduction on every road.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-705 (2)(c)(II)(A); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
On a highway posted 65 mph, traffic prevents a safe move over for a roadside emergency vehicle with flashing lights. Conditions allow the statutory presumed safe speed. What speed should you reduce to?
Correct answer: 45 mph or lower as conditions require.
For limits of 45 mph or more, the statute presumes a speed 20 mph below the limit safe unless conditions make it unsafe. At a 65-mph limit that is 45 mph; use a lower speed when needed.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-705 (2)(c)(II)(B); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
Snow and poor visibility make the usual move-over fallback speed unsafe near a stopped roadside vehicle. You cannot change lanes safely. Which rule applies?
Correct answer: Reduce further to a speed safe for the actual conditions.
The numerical speeds are presumptions, not guaranteed safe speeds. Weather, road conditions and nearby people can require a lower speed while you pass with due care.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-705 (2)(c); 42-4-1101 (1), (3); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
A truck is stopped beside the highway with hazard lights on while its tires are being fitted with chains. What must approaching drivers do?
Correct answer: Apply the move-over or safe-speed fallback rules with due care.
The move-over provisions also protect vehicles whose tires are being equipped with chains at the roadside. Move away when safely possible; otherwise slow appropriately and use caution.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-705 (2.6); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
You are already crossing an intersection when an ambulance using its warning signals approaches behind you. There is a safe place to pull right beyond the intersection. What should you do?
Correct answer: Clear the intersection, pull as close as possible to the right edge and stop.
Yield and stop at the right edge, clear of the intersection, until the emergency vehicle has passed, unless an officer directs otherwise. Do not block the intersection while trying to yield.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-705 (1); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
An adult driving an ordinary car stops at a red light and picks up a phone to read a personal message. There is no emergency. Is the stoplight a phone-use exception?
Correct answer: No; waiting in traffic is not the same as being lawfully parked.
The driving restriction continues while stopped at a traffic signal. Read personal messages after parking lawfully, not while waiting for the light. CDOT's hands-free FAQ also expressly addresses stoplights.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-239 (1)(e), (1)(f), (2); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
You park your ordinary car lawfully in a parking space before making a handheld call. How does Colorado's driving-phone restriction treat that situation?
Correct answer: Lawfully parked control of the car is outside its definition of operating.
For this section, operating means driving on a public highway and excludes a vehicle lawfully parked or at rest in a shoulder lane. This does not authorize stopping or parking in an unsafe or prohibited place.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-239 (1)(e); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
A driver needs to contact emergency services to report a nearby crash with apparent injuries. Does the mobile-device law recognize an exception for that call?
Correct answer: Yes; contacting a public safety entity or reporting such an emergency is excepted.
The statute provides exceptions for contacting a public safety entity and for emergencies, including reporting a crash with apparent injuries. Maintain safe vehicle control and stop safely when possible.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-239 (1)(a)(II), (3)(a), (3)(b); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
An adult driver's phone is securely mounted and plays a movie unrelated to navigation. Does mounting the phone make watching that movie lawful while driving?
Correct answer: No; watching an entertainment movie remains prohibited.
Mounting a device does not make watching entertainment video a permitted driving activity. The statute distinguishes navigation data from watching a video or movie for another purpose.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-239 (1)(f)(II), (2); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
You must stop for a train. There is no marked stop line, and you have a reasonable view from the normal stopping area. Where should you stop?
Correct answer: Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.
With no marked line and a reasonable view, stop no less than 15 and no more than 50 feet from the nearest rail. A separate provision addresses places where that position would not provide a reasonable view.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, section 42-4-706 (1)(a); current on September 13, 2026. ↗
