In which situation is a driver exempt from stopping for a school bus with its red lights flashing?

A driver is exempt from stopping for a school bus with its red lights flashing when the road is divided by a median. This is because a physical barrier, such as a raised median or a similarly designed separation, provides a safety buffer between the lanes of traffic. The law recognizes that vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are separate from the area where students are boarding or alighting from the bus, thus not posing an immediate danger to those children.

In situations where there is a traffic officer present, the officer may direct traffic, but it is still important for drivers to adhere to the law regarding school buses unless instructed otherwise. On a private road, the same rules may not apply as they do on public roads, but generally, drivers should still exercise caution. Lastly, the presence of passengers not being loaded does not exempt drivers from stopping; the law is specific about the need to stop for flashing red lights regardless of whether students are currently loading or unloading.