California Driver License (DMV) Written Practice Test

What should you do if you encounter a school bus with its yellow lights flashing?

1. Slow down and prepare to stop.

2. Pass the bus quickly on the left side.

3. Stop and wait until the lights stop flashing.

4. Pass the bus slowly on the right side.

The correct answer is: Slow down and prepare to stop.

When you encounter a school bus with its yellow lights flashing, you should slow down and prepare to stop. This is because the yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is about to stop to load or unload passengers. Passing the bus quickly on the left side (option B) is dangerous and illegal as you may not have enough time to stop if the bus suddenly stops. Stopping and waiting until the lights stop flashing (option C) is not necessary since the bus will have its red lights flashing and stop sign extended when it actually stops. Passing the bus slowly on the right side (option D) is also not recommended as it puts you in the blind spot of the bus driver and may have children crossing to get off the bus. Therefore, option A is the correct course of action when encountering a school bus with its yellow lights flashing.