When is it required to stop for a school bus?

The requirement to stop for a school bus is specifically tied to the activation of the bus's red lights and the extension of the stop sign. When the red lights are flashing and the stop sign is extended, it signifies that children may be entering or exiting the bus, and vehicles in both directions must stop. This law is in place to ensure the safety of children who may not be fully aware of their surroundings while getting on or off the bus.

Stopping for a school bus is critical outside of just school hours or traffic conditions; the response must be as dictated by the bus's signals. Therefore, while there may be considerations based on the situational context of the bus being in or out of school hours, the primary authority comes from the bus's operational signals. Always stopping when signaled is an important legal obligation designed to protect the highest priority, which is child safety.