What action should a driver take if they encounter a flashing red light?

When a driver encounters a flashing red light, the appropriate action is to stop without exception. Flashing red lights typically indicate that there is an immediate requirement for the vehicle to halt completely. This is crucial for maintaining safety, especially in the context of school buses, where the flashing red lights signal that children may be getting on or off the bus.

Stopping allows for maximum caution and ensures that any children are safely off the road before the vehicle proceeds. This rule is paramount in protecting the safety of all students and pedestrians nearby. Ignoring the flashing red lights by slowing down and proceeding with caution, driving at normal speed, or stopping only if there is oncoming traffic would compromise safety and violate the law, which mandates a full stop in this situation.