When are flashing lights used on a school bus?

Flashing lights on a school bus are specifically utilized when the bus is picking up or dropping off children to ensure the safety of students as they enter or exit the bus. This signal is critical because it alerts other drivers that there are children in the vicinity and that they need to stop and proceed with caution. High visibility during these moments is essential since children may be unpredictably moving around.

While flashing lights can also indicate other scenarios, such as all bus stops or driving on highways, these situations do not emphasize the primary intention behind using the flashing lights. The main concern of using flashing lights is to protect children during the specific process of getting on or off the bus. By adhering to this safety protocol, the bus driver effectively communicates to surrounding traffic the need to halt, thus minimizing the risk of accidents.