Under what conditions should you stop for a school bus?

Stopping for a school bus is crucial to ensure the safety of children getting on and off the bus. The correct answer emphasizes the importance of recognizing the presence of flashing lights and the surrounding road conditions to determine when to stop.

When there is no median present, and the school bus is displaying flashing lights, it indicates that the bus is either picking up or dropping off students. In this situation, all traffic in both directions must come to a complete stop, allowing children to safely cross the road or get on the bus. The absence of a median means there is no physical barrier separating the two lanes of traffic, heightening the need for caution and stopping.

This approach to stopping for school buses is part of road safety regulations aimed at protecting children during school hours, which are especially crucial since children may be distracted, and their actions can be unpredictable as they move around the bus.

Other scenarios described may not adequately ensure the same level of safety. For instance, if a bus is off the road in a loading zone, it may not be necessary to stop if there are no flashing lights. Similarly, mere observation of other vehicles stopping does not guarantee that stopping is legally required for all drivers, as the specific conditions regarding the bus's signaling must dictate the action