What should you do if you encounter a school bus with its stop arm extended?

When you encounter a school bus with its stop arm extended, stopping and waiting until the arm is retracted is the correct action to take for several important reasons.

The stop arm indicates that children may be getting on or off the bus, and it is a critical safety measure designed to protect these vulnerable individuals. This law is enforced to ensure the safety of children as they enter and exit the bus, as well as while they are in the vicinity of the bus. Stopping allows you to give them the time and space they need to cross safely.

Moreover, failing to stop when the arm is extended can lead to severe consequences, including traffic violations that carry significant penalties. These laws are in place across many jurisdictions, including Saskatchewan, to promote the safety of children around school buses.

In contrast, driving past quickly could endanger children who might be crossing the road at that moment. Honking to alert passengers does not effectively contribute to safety and could startle children or impede their awareness of their surroundings. Additionally, only stopping if children are crossing undermines the strict enforcement of the stop arm law, as the bus's stop signal is an automatic indication for all traffic to halt, regardless of whether children are visibly present. Thus, stopping and waiting until the