Under what condition can a motorist legally pass a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing?

A motorist can legally pass a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing when traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway. This safety regulation is in place because a divided highway creates a physical barrier that separates lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions. Therefore, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are not at risk of endangering children who may be boarding or disembarking from the bus.

In most other scenarios, such as when no separation exists (like on a two-way street), passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights would be illegal and unsafe, as children could be crossing the road. The options concerning the bus being on the right side, children being present, or the motorist signaling for the bus to proceed do not align with traffic laws designed to protect the safety of students.