When should you stop for a stopped school bus?

Stopping for a stopped school bus is crucial for the safety of children getting on or off the bus. The correct action is to stop when the red lights of the bus are flashing. This indicates that the bus is either loading or unloading students. It serves as a warning to drivers that children may be crossing the street or approaching the bus.

When the red lights are flashing, not only must you stop, but you must also remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the bus begins moving again. This law is in place to protect students as they transition to and from the bus, which is often a very busy time with traffic potentially surrounding the bus.

The other options represent common misconceptions. While yellow lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop and may require caution, it does not mandate a complete stop. Stopping whenever the bus is stopped can be misleading since it suggests drivers should stop at all times the bus is stopped, even when the lights are not flashing. Finally, the notion of stopping only if children are present overlooks the fact that the law requires stopping for the bus's signals regardless of children's immediate visibility.