You must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights if you are ________.

When you see a school bus with its flashing red lights activated, it is a clear signal that children may be entering or exiting the bus. The law requires drivers to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing regardless of their direction of travel. This is essential for the safety of the children who may be crossing the road.

Stopping when following the bus is particularly emphasized because you are in close proximity to where children might be in the path of traffic. Compliance with this rule helps ensure that children can safely board or exit the bus without the risk of being struck by an oncoming vehicle.

While approaching from the opposite direction might seem like a potential option to not stop, it’s vital to understand that laws vary by state, and many areas also require drivers coming from both directions to stop when a school bus has its lights flashing. However, the correct answer focuses on the immediate and direct situation of following the bus, where stopping is absolutely mandatory to uphold safety protocols for children.