What should a driver do immediately after stopping a school bus?

After stopping a school bus, the immediate action a driver should take is to open the entrance door slightly to activate the stop arms. This is critical for safety as the stop arms and flashing lights are intended to alert oncoming traffic that children may be boarding or disembarking from the bus. By opening the door, the bus indicates to vehicles that they must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the loading or unloading process is complete.

This action not only enhances the safety of students but also adheres to legal requirements regarding the operation of school buses. The stop arms and lights act as visual signals to all nearby drivers to be cautious and aware of the potential presence of children in the vicinity.

In contrast, activating the bus's interior lights, signaling with hand gestures for students to cross, or checking mirrors for surrounding traffic does not address the immediate priority of ensuring the stop signals are displayed to protect the students' safety during boarding and disembarking. While these actions are important in their own right, they do not provide the same level of immediate safety for students as activating the stop arms and lights by opening the entrance door.