Do you always have to stop for a school crossing guard?

When a school crossing guard is directing traffic, it is essential to stop, as they are there to ensure the safety of children and pedestrians crossing the street. The presence of a crossing guard indicates that there may be children in the vicinity, and they have the authority to manage traffic to protect those children. Even if no children are immediately crossing, obeying the crossing guard’s directions helps maintain a safe environment around schools.

The other choices fail to capture the full responsibility of drivers to recognize the authority of crossing guards. The option suggesting no stop is required unless signaled overlooks the fact that crossing guards provide a visual and legal directive that should be respected at all times when they are actively managing traffic. The choice that mentions stopping only if children are present ignores the context of preventive safety measures that crossing guards represent. Finally, the notion that stopping is only necessary during school hours does not account for situations where crossing guards may be present outside typical school hours for events or activities, emphasizing the need for consistent compliance.