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, the primary action you must take is to stop your vehicle and remain stopped until the lights are no longer flashing. This law is in place to ensure the safety of children who may be boarding or disembarking from the bus. The flashing red lights signal that it is unsafe to pass, as children could be crossing the street or getting on or off the bus. Stopping helps protect these vulnerable pedestrians and ensures that drivers are adhering to traffic rules designed to keep children safe.

Speeding past the bus can lead to tragic accidents, as it puts children at risk who may be unpredictably moving around the bus. Honking at the bus driver serves no educational or necessary purpose in this context and could even distract or confuse them or the children. Proceeding with caution, instead of stopping, fails to comply with the law and disregard the critical safety measures in place for school zones and bus stops. Thus, the correct action is to stop and wait until it is safe to proceed.