What is the penalty for failing to stop for a school bus with its lights flashing?

When a school bus has its lights flashing, it signals that children may be getting on or off the bus, indicating that drivers must stop. The penalty for failing to stop under these circumstances is often significant fines and demerit points on your driver's license. This is designed to emphasize the criticality of safety around school zones and to protect children.

The reason this penalty is stringent is to deter drivers from making unsafe choices that could lead to serious accidents. School buses are equipped with safety features, including flashing lights, to create a safe environment for children exiting or entering the bus. Ignoring these signals demonstrates a disregard for traffic laws and the safety of vulnerable pedestrians.

As for other options, a verbal warning is not sufficient for such a serious violation, as it does not reflect the potential danger posed by not adhering to school bus signals. Stating that there is no penalty if you are driving under the speed limit is misleading, as the law applies regardless of speed; the requirement to stop is absolute when a school bus is in operation. Additionally, attendance at traffic school could be a possibility for some traffic violations but is not the primary penalty associated with failing to stop for a school bus. Thus, significant fines and demerit points appropriately underscore the seriousness of