When you encounter a school bus with its flashing lights on and the stop arm extended, the general rule is that you must stop for the bus if you are traveling in the same direction. However, if you are traveling in the opposite direction on an undivided roadway, such as one with an unpaved median that is at least 5 feet wide, you are not required to stop. This is based on the understanding that the width of the median provides a clear separation between the traffic lanes, thereby reducing the risk of interaction with the bus loading or unloading children.
Since the presence of at least a 5-foot median creates a safer distance, the law allows drivers in the opposite direction to proceed without stopping. For situations where the median is narrower or not present, the rules typically change, requiring all traffic to stop, regardless of direction.