When should a driver use hazard lights on the bus?

Using hazard lights on a school bus is appropriate when loading or unloading students. This practice serves a crucial safety purpose. Activating hazard lights alerts other drivers that the bus is stationary and that there may be children entering or exiting the vehicle. It enhances visibility and indicates that extra caution should be exercised in the immediate area.

In contrast, using hazard lights during regular driving conditions, specifically in good weather, can confuse other drivers and does not serve a necessary function, as buses are expected to follow typical traffic rules. Similarly, using them only in bad weather is not sufficient, as children may be boarding or exiting the bus at any time in various conditions. Parking in a bus zone, while necessary for student safety, does not specifically warrant hazard lights unless students are being actively loaded or unloaded. Therefore, the use of hazard lights is specifically geared toward situations involving student safety during those critical moments of boarding and alighting from the bus.