What should you do if you encounter a school bus with flashing red lights?

When you encounter a school bus with flashing red lights, it is essential to stop and wait until the lights stop flashing. This law is in place to protect children as they get on or off the bus. The flashing red lights indicate that the bus is either picking up or dropping off students, and vehicles must come to a complete stop regardless of the direction they are approaching the bus from, unless there is a physical barrier like a median.

This action helps ensure the safety of children who may unexpectedly cross the street. It is a standard traffic rule in Maryland, as well as in many other states, that aims to minimize the risk of accidents involving children and vehicles in the vicinity of a school bus.

The other options, such as passing the bus cautiously, honking your horn, or driving at half speed, do not prioritize safety appropriately in this situation. Passing a bus with flashing lights could endanger children. Honking your horn could startle children or drivers, leading to potential accidents, and driving at half speed does not comply with the requirement to stop completely. Therefore, stopping and waiting until the lights stop flashing is the correct and safest action to take.