Final answer:
The stopping for school bus law applies to all vehicles on the road, requiring drivers to stop when a school bus activates its flashing red lights and stop sign arm on undivided roadways. Drivers must remain stopped until the bus deactivates its signals. However, traffic laws could be broken in extreme emergencies, though this should never be taken as general advice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stopping for school bus law typically applies to all vehicles on the road, unless specified otherwise by state or local laws. The general principle is that when a school bus stops to load or unload students and activates its flashing red lights and stop sign arm, all traffic in both directions on an undivided roadway must stop. This law is intended to protect the safety of children as they enter and exit the bus, and ensure they can safely cross the street if necessary.
Each state may have specific variations and additional rules, such as requirements on divided highways or roads with multiple lanes. It's also critical for drivers to remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing and the stop sign arm is retracted, indicating that it's safe to proceed.
Regarding emergency situations like the one described in the question, while rules of the road are meant to promote safety, there can be exceptional circumstances where breaking traffic laws might be considered necessary. However, this depends largely on the laws in the jurisdiction and shouldn't be taken as general advice. It's always advisable to follow traffic laws unless directed by law enforcement or emergency services.
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