During which situation should a bus driver notify the authorities immediately?

Notifying the authorities immediately when a student is missing is crucial because it involves the safety and well-being of a child. The potential risk of harm makes this situation urgent and requires prompt action to ensure the student is located quickly. In these cases, every moment counts, and involving the authorities can mobilize resources and assistance more swiftly.

On the other hand, minor mechanical issues, being late, or encountering traffic delays may not pose immediate threats to safety and can often be resolved without emergency intervention. While those situations may still require attention, they do not necessitate an immediate alert to authorities like the missing student scenario does. Thus, the focus on student safety and urgency clearly underscores why immediate notification in the case of a missing student is vital.