What should you do if you see a school bus with its red lights flashing?

When you see a school bus with its red lights flashing, the correct action is to stop your vehicle and wait until the lights turn off. This rule is in place to ensure the safety of children who may be getting on or off the bus. The flashing red lights indicate that the bus is either loading or unloading students, and it is crucial to halt your vehicle to provide a safe environment for these children.

Stopping not only demonstrates adherence to traffic laws but also helps prevent potential accidents that could occur if vehicles fail to stop, as children often cross roads unpredictably. The law is designed to protect young pedestrians, making it imperative for drivers to exercise caution and comply with this regulation.

Options that suggest passing the bus or only stopping if children are present do not account for the unpredictability of child behavior and could endanger their safety. Additionally, honking and driving past do not align with traffic laws and further jeopardize the safety of those who may be getting on or off the bus. Thus, stopping and waiting is the safest and most responsible choice when a school bus’s lights are active.