Final answer:
You should stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with activated red stop lights to allow for safe passage of children. The stopping distance of a car can vary depending on road conditions and driver reaction time.
Step-by-step explanation:
When stopping for a school bus with its red stop lights activated, you should stop your vehicle at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from the bus to allow children to enter or exit the bus safely. This distance provides a safety zone for students and is a legal requirement in many regions. It's important to adhere to this rule to ensure the safety of children.
The distance necessary to stop a car can vary according to road conditions and driver reaction time. For instance, on dry pavement, a car initially traveling at 30.0 m/s with a driver reaction time of 0.500 s would require a certain braking distance to come to a stop safely. Stopping distances are longer in wet conditions due to reduced friction.