Final answer:
When encountering a stopped school bus with flashing lights and an extended signal arm, you must stop and remain stationary until it is safe to proceed, ensuring student safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you meet a stopped school bus with the lights flashing and the signal arm extended, you should stop moving and become stationary until the signal arm is retracted and the flashing lights are turned off. This ensures the safety of the students boarding or exiting the bus and is mandated by traffic laws in many jurisdictions.
Pedestrian safety is a significant concern around school buses, as children may be crossing the road to get on or off the bus. Furthermore, ignoring a stopped school bus with flashing lights and an extended signal arm can result in severe legal consequences, which underlines the importance of adhering to this rule. Just as a traffic signal controls the flow of vehicles and safeguards pedestrians at intersections, the flashing lights and signal arm of a school bus serve a similar function for student safety at their designated stops.