If a school bus ahead of you has red lights flashing, what should you do?

When a school bus has its red lights flashing, it is a clear indication that the bus is either picking up or dropping off children. The law requires all drivers approaching a stopped school bus with its red lights activated to stop their vehicles. This is important for the safety of children who may be crossing the street or moving near the bus.

Stopping as long as the red lights are flashing allows for a secure environment for children to safely enter or exit the bus without the risk of being struck by a passing vehicle. It is a mandatory action to ensure that drivers respect the safety measures in place and to prevent accidents that could result in serious injury or fatality to young children.

Other responses do not adequately ensure the safety of the children. Proceeding when you think all children have exited could lead to dangerous situations if any children are still nearby. Slowing down to 25 MPH and passing could cause accidents, especially if children unexpectedly cross the road. Honking the horn adds unnecessary noise that could startle children and is not a practical or safe measure to alert anyone.

Therefore, stopping as long as the red lights are flashing is the correct and safest action you can take in this situation.