INDIANA — Today marks the start of National School Bus Safety Week, and organizations nationwide—including the School Transportation Association of Indiana (STAI)—are issuing an urgent plea to motorists: stopping for a school bus is the law and a matter of life and death.
Joining the awareness effort are major organizations such as the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation, the National School Transportation Association, Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, Blue Bird Corporation, and ROUSH CleanTech.
To reinforce the safety message, RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece appears in a new video campaign. Preece, who drives the No. 60 car, reminds the public that safety around school buses is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of experience behind the wheel, and demonstrates that even professional drivers stop for school buses.
Millions of Violations Each Year
The heightened focus on safety comes as the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) releases alarming new data on illegal passings. While the yellow school bus remains the safest form of student transportation, the NASDPTS’s thirteenth annual National Stop Arm Violation Survey reveals the pervasive danger.
In just one day during the 2024–2025 school year, 114,239 school bus drivers across 36 states and D.C. reported 67,258 vehicles illegally passing their stopped buses.
When projected across all U.S. school bus drivers, this figure equates to an estimated more than 39.3 million violations per year. Although this represents a decrease from the previous year’s projection of 45.2 million, the issue remains a catastrophic safety hazard.
“Even with these corrected numbers, the illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be the greatest safety danger to children,” said NASDPTS President Mike Stier. “Regardless of the number, 39.3 million violations is simply too many.”
Stier encouraged states to continue raising awareness and to “do everything possible to ensure motorists put the safety of school children first.”
Enforcement and Vigilance Critical
Katrina Morris, Executive Director at the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation, underscored the severity of the incidents.
“Every time a driver illegally passes a stopped school bus, they put a child’s life at risk,” Morris stated. “Stopping for a school bus takes only a few seconds, but it can prevent a lifetime of heartache. We urge all motorists to slow down, stay alert, and always stop when red lights are flashing.”
The annual survey, conducted since 2011, highlights the ongoing need for education, enforcement, and vigilance. In recent years, several states have taken action by strengthening penalties, authorizing camera-based enforcement, and implementing new public awareness campaigns.
For further information on school bus safety, the 2025 NASDPTS Stop Arm Violation Survey results are available online. Questions about School Bus Safety Week can be directed to Dr. Terry Tippin at director@stai.us.
