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

When you encounter a school bus with its red lights flashing, it is essential to stop and wait until the lights stop flashing. The flashing red lights indicate that children are either boarding or disembarking from the bus, making it crucial to ensure their safety by halting your vehicle. This law is designed to protect students as they cross the road, as children may not always be aware of oncoming traffic.

Stopping for the bus also communicates to other drivers that they should also remain vigilant and prepared to stop, thus creating a safer environment around the bus. Furthermore, passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights is illegal in many jurisdictions, as it endangers the lives of the children.

While some may think they can pass the bus safely when no one else is around, it still puts children at risk. Honking to alert the driver or slowing down and proceeding cautiously does not provide the full measure of safety required in this situation. Therefore, stopping and waiting is the correct and safest response.