What should a school bus driver do if they encounter a student waiting at a bus stop?

When a school bus driver encounters a student waiting at a bus stop, the most appropriate action is to stop and allow the student to board safely. This procedure is crucial for ensuring the safety of students who are likely eager to get on the bus and travel to school or their planned destination.

Stopping ensures that the student can enter the bus without being placed in a potentially dangerous situation, such as crossing a road unsafely or being in close proximity to moving traffic. The driver is trained to be vigilant in watching for students at bus stops and to follow established safety protocols, which include making the necessary stops for students waiting to board.

Other actions contradict safe practices. For instance, ignoring the student would not only pose a safety risk but would also violate the responsibilities of a school bus driver. Waiting for the student to wave before stopping places unnecessary responsibility on the student and could lead to confusion or missed opportunities to board the bus. Furthermore, calling a supervisor before taking action would delay the process and may leave the student without safe transportation. Thus, stopping and allowing the student to board safely is unequivocally the best approach.