What must you do when approaching a stopped school bus?

When approaching a stopped school bus, the correct action is to stop. This is critical for the safety of children who may be boarding or disembarking from the bus. School buses are equipped with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm when they are picking up or dropping off students, indicating that vehicles must come to a complete stop regardless of the direction of travel.

Stopping when you see a school bus is legally mandated and helps ensure that children can safely cross the road or approach the vehicle without the risk of being hit by moving traffic. This law is in place to protect some of the most vulnerable road users, as children may not always be aware of surrounding traffic or may act unpredictably when getting on or off the bus.

Continuing to drive, speeding past, or honking the horn would not convey an appropriate response in this scenario and could endanger the lives of children. Therefore, stopping is the correct and necessary action to take when approaching a stopped school bus.