What should you do if you see a school bus with its stop sign extended?

When a school bus has its stop sign extended, it indicates that children are either boarding or disembarking from the bus, making it crucial for drivers to prioritize their safety. The correct action in this situation is to stop your vehicle and remain stopped until the stop sign is retracted. This requirement helps ensure that children have a safe environment to cross the street or enter the bus without the risk of being struck by passing vehicles.

Stopping is necessary not just for the safety of the children but also because it is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. Laws typically mandate that vehicles must stop when a school bus displays its stop sign, regardless of the direction from which you approach. This is designed to protect students, as they may not always be fully aware of their surroundings while focused on getting to or from school.

Waiting for a signal from the bus driver is not standard protocol; rather, drivers must wait until the bus has completely retracted its stop sign and the bus is no longer in a stopped position to proceed safely. This ensures the safety of all students until they are safely away from the bus.