Final answer:
Drivers must stop for a school bus to ensure pedestrian safety. Installing traffic signals at intersections can manage vehicle speeds, enhance pedestrian safety, and reduce traffic accidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
When on a two-lane roadway, drivers must stop their vehicles when approaching a stopped school bus with its red warning lights flashing and its stop signal arm extended. This rule is designed to protect pedestrian safety, particularly that of students getting on or off the bus. The safety concern extends to intersections where traffic signals are necessary to manage the flow of vehicles and protect pedestrians. For example, the installation of a traffic signal at a busy intersection greatly reduces the chances that vehicles will speed through without regard to pedestrians or posted speed limits, as it forces them to stop. Moreover, such signals would allow pedestrians, including students, to cross at appropriate times without having to dodge traffic, thus reducing the potential for accidents.
Causes for Installing Traffic Signals
There are multiple reasons for installing a traffic signal at an intersection:
- To manage vehicle speed and prevent them from racing through, regardless of the posted speed limit.
- To improve pedestrian safety by providing structured crossing times.
- To decrease the overall number of traffic accidents, which can be tragic and are often too high without proper control at intersections.