What should you do when approaching a bus that is picking up students?

When approaching a bus that is in the process of picking up students, the correct action is to stop unless you are on a divided road. This is essential for ensuring the safety of the children who may be crossing the road or boarding the bus. Buses are equipped with significant safety features, including stop signs that extend when they are actively loading or unloading students, which mandate that all traffic in either direction come to a complete stop.

The rationale behind requiring vehicles to stop is to provide a safe environment for students, allowing them time to enter or exit the bus without the risk of being struck by passing vehicles. This rule exists regardless of the speed limit, as the safety of pedestrians, especially children, takes precedence over the flow of traffic.

In contrast, maintaining speed could pose a risk to students, as they may not be visible to the driver of an approaching vehicle or misjudged as they attempt to cross the street. Similarly, honking your horn does not improve safety and can potentially confuse or scare students, leading to unpredictable behavior. Passing cautiously also fails to guarantee safety, as it does not adequately ensure that all students have safely boarded or disembarked from the bus. It is crucial to fully abide by the stopping rule to protect vulnerable road users