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

When you approach a school bus with its red lights flashing, the correct action is to stop your vehicle and wait until the lights stop flashing. This protocol is in place to ensure the safety of children as they board or exit the bus. The flashing red lights indicate that children may be present nearby, and it is critical to provide them with a safe environment to do so.

Stopping your vehicle allows for an extra measure of caution and helps ensure that children can cross the street safely without the risk of oncoming traffic. It's important to remember that in Washington State, failing to stop for a school bus with its red lights activated can result in significant penalties, including fines or points on your driving record.

Other actions, such as speeding up to pass the bus or proceeding without stopping, pose serious risks to children's safety and violate traffic laws designed to protect them. Additionally, honking your horn, while it may alert children, does not substitute for the essential action of stopping and waiting for the lights to stop flashing.