Industry consultant Derek Graham will take the stage at STN EXPO East to shed light on the trends of illegal passing trends involving school buses, the work of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to combat the crimes, and provide recommendations to protect the students on and off the yellow school bus.

The “Trends in Illegal Passing Awareness & Enforcement” session will be held March 29, on day four of the conference in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina. Graham has a career history of passion for school bus safety as an industry consultant and former state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as well as past president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS).

Graham’s home state of North Carolina was the first state to initiate an annual count of illegal passing trends, dating back to 1998. He co-coordinated the annual NASDPTS national school bus illegal passing count with Charlie Hood, at the time state director for Florida and later the association’s executive director, and worked with NHTSA to implement one of the first enforcement campaign using stop arm cameras.

During the STN EXPO East session, Graham will look at recent NASDPTS survey findings that found a drop in the number of illegal passing incidents last past school year. As he analyzes this and other federal data, he will explain the recent efforts of federally directed NHTSA studies that look at various components of the student transportation ecosystem to help reduce instances of illegal passing. This will include a breakdown of the NHTSA toolkit for planning safety school bus stops and routes and their evaluation of the technology offerings that target illegal passing as well their effectiveness. Graham will use his detailed knowledge of the nuance of federal laws and initiatives to summarize and explain how this research influenced NHTSA’s recommended actions to improve school bus safety.

Listen to Derek Graham’s recent interview on the STN Podcast.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how the results of these initiatives at the federal level can help further safety at their operations.

Early Bird savings ends Feb. 13. Register for the conference by the deadline to save $100 on main conference registration. The six-day conference will feature dozens of educational sessions, the Bus Technology Summit and Green Bus Summit, the hands-on National School Bus Inspection Training program and unique networking events including the Ride and Drive/Product Demo, Trade Show and Saf-T-Liner Thomas Built Buses Factory Tour. Some of these unique experiences have limited space, register now at stnexpo.com/east.

Related: STN EXPO East to Share Importance of School Bus Video Review
Related: Security Expert to Share Indicators Violent Behavior at STN EXPO East
Related: UPDATED: National School Bus Inspection Training Returns to STN EXPO East

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A motorist is late for work and, in a rush, passes a stopped school bus loading children. By doing so, this person is putting children’s lives in danger. Community and political leaders have become increasingly concerned about this issue, and state legislation is addressing the running of school bus stop arms.

An online survey of 2,000 parents and caretakers also indicates increasing concern with their children’s commutes to and from school. In fact, 43 percent said they have observed a “near miss” in a school zone, with one-third saying they saw motorists nearly hit students at school bus stops with the stop-arm extended. Eighty-two percent of those parents said they support safety cameras to monitor and penalize illegal passers. The results come from a survey conducted last year by Verra Mobility.

Educating the public on the importance of school bus safety is an essential goal for Ward Leber, the founder and chairman of the Child Safety Network (CSN), who has worked with the U.S. Senate over the past dozen years to recognize National School Bus Safety Month in September.

Leber said research indicates some motorists who pass stopped buses are just not paying attention. Other people don’t know the dangers present when children are boarding and exiting buses. Even worse, as a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uncovered, many motorists say they don’t care about school buses.

“We are working on a campaign to increase awareness of school bus safety,” Leber added. The football themed “Know When It’s Safe to Pass” PSA is authorized by the Senate resolution and is expected to be released this month to coincide with the Super Bowl. Ward said CSN is working with several well-known professional athletes to create messages to promote the idea that quarterbacks must make correct decisions, especially when the big game is on the line. But illegally passing a stopped school bus is more than a bad mistake. It endangers the lives of children. Leber said he believes motorists must make the right call behind the wheel when they approach school bus stops. And that is to always stop and remain stopped until the flashing red lights and stop arm deactivate.

The CSN campaign also provides free resources that explain in plain language with visuals when it is safe and lawful to pass school buses in either direction. And it seeks to improve how school bus safety is covered on not only state-administered driving tests but internationally as well. Leber said information must be updated to reflect real-world driving situations.

“We intend to ask the U.S. State Department to require basic instruction on school-bus laws for visitors who will be driving in the U.S., and to encourage rental car companies to voluntarily provide school-bus safety information, authored by CSN, particularly to international renters and especially during back-to-school periods,” he added. “This is about removing ignorance as an excuse before it becomes a tragedy.”

The Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation is working on this issue and has supported state legislation to increase fines for people who run red lights at stopped school buses. Fines for passing a stopped bus can reach $500.

Katrina Morris, executive director of MAPT, said efforts are underway to educate drivers about the importance of stopping when they see a school bus stop arm through fun, informative PSAs.

She worked last fall with Ryan Preece, a professional NASCAR driver on team RFK Racing owned by Jack Roush, founder of ROUSH Enterprises and the ROUSH CleanTech division, to make a public service announcement on the importance of not passing stopped school buses. As a race car driver, Preece likes to go fast and not stop, the PSA says. It shows him not stopping for a tire change at a pit stop and not stopping for a drink at a roadside lemonade stand, but even he has time to stop when the reds are flashing for a school bus.

Lomas Brown, a retired offensive lineman for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, is currently working with Morris and MAPT to create a similar ad. It states, “When the reds are flashing, there is no passing.”

Morris said MAPT also plans to work with Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan to support legislation he introduced last year with Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, the Brakes for Kids Act, a campaign to increase public awareness of the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus. Peters also co-introduced the School Bus Safety Month proclamation led by CSN and Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska.

“Parents need to know their kids are safe taking the bus to and from school,” said Peters in a statement. “That’s why I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to raise awareness of the dangers of illegally passing school buses and promoting best practices for making our communities safer.”

The Ohio Association of Pupil Transportation is encouraging drivers to stop when they see a school bus with its stop arm out. An important goal is to educate the public about the importance of caring for children. OAPT developed a new safety program and has been working alongside MAPT and its Reece PSA to encourage people not to pass stopped school buses.

The association also promoted legislation to raise fines for people who are caught passing stopped school buses with stop arms out. Ohio school buses are equipped with cameras that capture images of drivers passing stopped school buses, and the photos can be used to issue tickets. The state is providing more grant money that school districts can apply for to purchase cameras.

“We have School Bus Safety Week and have encouraged public school districts to promote bus safety,” said Todd Silverthorn, executive director of OAPT. “We are using social media to get the message across that drivers should not pass stopped school buses.

As part of the new school bus safety grant initiative, a campaign has been launched to promote school bus safety. More efforts are being made to involve law enforcement. Thomas Built Buses has created a campaign that says, “If you pass, you’re an ass,” Silverthorn said.

Meanwhile, the one-day annual survey conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services reported 67,000 violations observed by 114,000 participating school bus drivers last year. It lead NASDPTS to estimate that millions of incidents occur nationwide each school year and put children at significant risk for injury or death.

Reach Out and Stop Someone
Another measure to reduce stop-arm running is by installing extended stop arms. Child Safety Network’s Ward Leber has worked to create a partnership with one of these providers, BusGates. An important goal of this partnership is to end the millions of illegal school bus passings each year.

BusGates and CSN have developed an LED-lit, stoparm extension that attaches to the stop arm already installed on the school bus. To date, about 5,000 have been installed on school buses in 26 states. When the bus comes to a stop, the extension swings out nearly five feet from the side of the bus, reinforcinga visual and physical barrier that a motorist cannot miss.

This extended stop arm acts like a railroad crossing gate, forcing drivers to stop in advance of the bus, before a violation or resulting collision can occur. Field tests from school districts using BusGates have been promising, with some seeing their daily illegal passing incidents drop from many to zero after the extensions were installed, explained Leber.

“No parent should have to fear for their child’s life at the bus stop. The numbers are staggering, tens of millions of violations each year, and each one is a child’s close call or worse. By partnering with Children Safety Network, BusGates is taking action to ensure every driver gets the message that when a school bus stops, we must all stop,” he added.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the February 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: (STN Podcast E290) Ideas, People & Solutions: Three-Pronged Approach to ‘Danger Zone’ Safety
Related: WATCH: Michigan Association Releases Illegal Passing PSA for School Bus Safety Week
Related: WATCH: West Virginia Releases Illegal Passing Awareness Video
Related: Michigan Association Films Illegal School Bus Passing PSA with NASCAR’s Preece

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MESA, Ariz., – As the school year hits a midway point, a recent Verra Mobility 2025-2026 school year survey, issued via Pollfish, reveals that parents and caregivers of school-aged students overwhelmingly support the use of automated enforcement to improve student transportation safety.

The survey, which included 2,000 parents or caretakers of children who walk, drive, are driven, or take transportation to school, showed that many respondents have witnessed near-miss incidents where a student was almost hit in a school zone or near a school bus.

The data points to a pattern of dangerous incidents in school zones and near school buses, and parents’ desire for action:

82% support safety cameras to monitor and penalize drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. 70% of respondents favor automated enforcement in school zones

The response comes as many of these same parents and caregivers have witnessed events that nearly led to student tragedy:

43% have observed a “near miss” in a school zone. 33% have seen a “near miss” surrounding a stopped school bus

Automated enforcement programs have long been proven effective. Verra Mobility program data shows that school bus stop-arm programs have experienced as much as a 50% reduction in violations within just two months of launching the program. As the program continues, 98% of drivers who receive one stop-arm violation don’t receive a second.

Similar success has been experienced with school zone speed safety programs, where programs have experienced a 94 percent reduction in speeding at speed camera locations.

“Parents, educators, and communities share the same priority – keeping students safe,” said David Dorfman, senior vice president, Verra Mobility. “With a large majority of parents supporting automated enforcement in school zones and for school bus stop-arm enforcement, technology offers a proven way to change dangerous driving behaviors and prevent tragedies.”

This data comes as cities and counties across the U.S. are utilizing technology to make a difference. During the 2024-2025 school year, Verra Mobility, which covers more than 250 communities, launched 13 new school zone speed programs, from Memphis, TN, to Poulsbo, WA, in order to deter dangerous driving and protect students.

This trend also reflects concerns from educators and school administrators, with 38% of public-school officials moderately or strongly agreeing that traffic patterns around their schools pose a threat to students’ physical safety during their commute. To combat this, parents are advocating for a holistic safety approach with physical and policy-based improvements such as speed bumps, more crossing guards, better signage and traffic signals.

For more information on how to support safer driving and how to employ safety solutions for your community, visit www.verramobility.com/government.

About Verra Mobility
Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions that make transportation safer, smarter and more connected. The company sits at the center of the mobility ecosystem, bringing together vehicles, hardware, software, data and people to enable safe, efficient solutions for customers globally. Verra Mobility’s transportation safety systems and parking management solutions protect lives, improve urban and motorway mobility and support healthier communities. The company also solves complex payment, utilization and compliance challenges for fleet owners and rental car companies. Headquartered in Arizona, Verra Mobility operates in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information, please visit www.verramobility.com.

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This month’s issue highlights safety, covering different aspects of how the student transportation is addressing the most pressing safety challenges facing students, drivers and transportation departments. Learn more about the planning needed for the aftermath of school bus crashes, prevention techniques and equipment including lap/shoulder seatbelts, training policies and garages, as well as furthering safety through awareness, access and accountability.

Also, find dates, agendas and new experiences coming up for our 2026 conferences.

Read the full February 2026 issue.

Features

‘This is Bad’
Planning for what happens in the minutes, days and weeks following a severe school bus crash is as important as training to avoid an incident from occurring in the first place.

An Evolution of Thought
Installing lap/shoulder seatbelts on school buses is only half the battle. Experts say it’s vital to also have usage policies and training procedures in place for successful implementation.

Keys to Success
Developing a safety culture not only begins and ends with school bus passengers but must encompass everything from driver training to garage layout.

Special Reports

Getting the Word Out
As illegal passing incidents continue to plague the industry, many federal and state organizations are working on public safety announcements to increase school bus awareness among motorists.

Feedback
Online
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Strongest Case Yet for 3-point Belts?

Thought Leader by Glenna-Wright Gallo
School Bus Adaptive Technology: Safer Rides, Stronger Teams, Better Access

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Autonomous Vehicle Implications

The post February 2026 appeared first on School Transportation News.

According to a recent NASDPTS survey, more than 218,000 illegal stop-arm passings occurred daily in the U.S. during the 2024/2025 school year. For bus drivers who witness these violations then press event markers to capture them, the tasks can be overwhelming. In addition, the few seconds spent activating stop-arm cameras can distract drivers, pulling their attention away from students and the surrounding traffic. These crucial seconds could mean the difference between safe stops and serious events.

The AI Solution

To reduce drivers’ daily tasks, alleviate distractions and improve violation detection, the AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera provides an innovative, effective solution. Using vision based artificial intelligence, this IP camera sees motorists enter its detection zone while the stop arm is extended. Here’s how it works:

1. Once the camera detects a vehicle passing the extended stop arm, it automatically prompts the REI DVR to flag and record the violation.
2. REI’s license plate camera(s) simultaneously captures the violator’s plates.
3. The marker then prompts REI’s ARMOR Software Suite to auto-download the video clip, plate images and metadata from the DVR.
4. ARMOR receives and stores the video and data shortly after the violation, making it easily accessible to administration.
5. Administration reviews the violation, then emails law enforcement a secure link to the video evidence if necessary.

Driver Benefits

Drivers no longer need to observe and press event markers to capture violations. The AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera does it for them. This reduces stress and allows drivers to stay focused on students as they board and exit rather than violation detection. What’s more, the camera helps reduce missed violations due to human error, improving accuracy.

Administration Benefits

For administration, the streamlined, automated detection and management process eliminates hours spent searching for violation video. It also ensures evidence and relevant data, like bus ID, date, time and location, are ready when needed for law enforcement. School officials access clear, indisputable video evidence in ARMOR within minutes, freeing up valuable time for other operational tasks.

Community Impact

Beyond its benefits for bus drivers and operations, the solution signals to the community that school bus safety laws are enforced. Over time, consistent, reliable violation detection and prosecution have the potential to change motorists’ behaviors. Motorists who once took chances when they saw extended stop arms may reconsider if they know their actions are detected and recorded. This can help ease the minds of parents, students and the community.

More Than Detection

Besides its ability to detect illegal passings, the AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera assists in liability protection. The time-stamped video and license plate images it initiates can help verify violations and resolve disputes quickly. This minimizes lengthy investigations and supports accurate reporting to insurance companies.

Next Steps

While the survey revealed fewer violations occurred during the 2024/2025 school year than the previous year, illegal stop-arm passings remain a serious problem. By implementing REI’s AI-powered stop-arm camera solution, districts can take a proactive, automatic approach to detection. The result can lead to a safer environment for students and greater peace of mind for drivers and school officials.

If your district is ready to take the next step toward detecting and reducing stop-arm violations, REI can help. Call 800.228.9275, contact us or your REI sales representative for more details about this advanced technology.* Together, we can make a difference in student safety.

^{*Additional hardware and software required.}

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

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Ryan and Taylor discuss upcoming student transportation awards, the NTSB investigation of a fatal school bus dragging, and a Florida bus aide arrested for child abuse.

“Education, engineering and enforcement.” Student safety is a passion of Derek Graham, an industry consultant and former state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as well as past president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). He joins us to discuss NASDPTS’ annual illegal passing survey and additional safety efforts which he will present about at STN EXPO East this March in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina.

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Despite multiple attempts to correct the situation, Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are still illegally passing Austin Independent School District school buses in Texas.

“Even after the November software update and December software recall Waymo says they conducted,” Austin ISD said in a statement Jan. 14. The school district added the most another violation just occurred two days earlier.

Austin ISD now confirms Waymo vehicles committed a total of 24 violations, as of the middle of January.

“Austin ISD again asks that Waymo cease operations in the mornings and afternoons during school days when our students are using our school buses,” a statement by the district reads. “Austin ISD continues to explore any and all legal recourse available.”

Despite the most recent update last week, Austin ISD officials have been navigating this situation for months.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also opened a preliminary evaluation Oct. 17, after a Waymo vehicle failed to stop and passed a school bus in Atlanta, Georgia in September. School Transportation News reached out to Atlanta Public Schools regarding the violations but had yet to hear back at this writing.

Back in Texas, Austin ISD installed BusPatrol camera systems in 2024 on all 519 of the district’s general and special education buses. Citations for illegal passing incidents began soon after that. Prior to the BusPatrol partnership, the district saw 10,000 to 12,000 violations a year, said Kris Hafezizadeh, the executive director of transportation and vehicle services. Now, the school district sees a little over 7,000 passes. He cited a decrease in repeat offenders.

Among those violators is Waymo. Hafezizadeh said the autonomous vehicles treat the school bus like a stop sign, some not even stopping before approaching the school bus.

Waymo reported to Austin ISD as of Nov. 5 that software updates were in place to resolve the issue. Hafezizadeh said. However, a Nov. 20 memo to Waymo by Austin ISD general counsel states that five violations occurred after Waymo’s Nov. 5 letter.

“Put simply, Waymo’s software updates are clearly not working as intended nor as quickly as required. We cannot allow Waymo to continue endangering our students while it attempts to implement a fix,” the memo states. “Accordingly, Austin ISD demands that Waymo immediately cease operation of its automated vehicles during the hours of 5:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., until more in-depth software updates are completed and Waymo can guarantee its vehicles will comply with the law.”

Hafezizadeh said Waymo “disagreed.” In early December, Hafezizadeh offered his school buses and parking lot to further test the software in Waymo vehicles. He noted that Waymo brought two of its cars and he provided seven school buses of different OEMs to conduct tests. He added that his staff complied with any request made by Waymo officials during the four-hour test period.

“The unfortunate part is, after that, they had another two or three violations,” he said.

Waymo did not respond to requests for comment at this writing.

Related: NHTSA Investigates Autonomous Waymo Rides After Illegal School Bus Passing
Related: Waymo Driverless Car Illegally Passes Stopped School Bus in Atlanta
Related: Federal Bill Aims to Increase Awareness of Illegal School Bus Passing

The post Waymo Driverless Vehicles Continue to Illegally Pass School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tony, Ryan and Taylor discuss the most-read online articles from stnonline.com during 2025, which focused on illegal passing incidents, school bus driver misconduct and students injured or killed. Training is needed for students, parents and drivers.

Read all our latest news.

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The most read School Transportation News magazine articles in 2025 explored AI and other emerging technology, leadership, workforce development and evolving student transportation models.

Specific topics included illegal school bus passing prevention, routing optimization, artificial intelligence and future-focused fleet technology, to reflect a transportation industry actively adapting to new challenges and opportunities. At the same time, human-centered stories, highlighting leadership, recognition and professional growth continued to resonate strongly with readers.

Together, these articles underscore the industry’s dual focus on innovation and culture as transportation departments prepare for the future.

STN reports below on the top-viewed article from each monthly magazine issue in 2025, organized by publication month.

January – Atypical Student Transportation

This article examined nontraditional student transportation scenarios that fall outside standard home-to-school routes on school buses. It explored how districts are adapting to serve students with disabilities and special needs who need alternative schedules and specialized programs. The piece emphasized flexibility, collaboration and policy considerations required to safely and effectively manage atypical transportation models.

February – Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Focusing on one of the most persistent safety threats in pupil transportation, this article addresses strategies to reduce illegal passing of stopped school buses. It highlighted the role of public awareness campaigns, stop-arm cameras, and enforcement partnerships, reinforcing the importance of both education and technology in protecting students at bus stops.

March – On the Block

Procurement and decision-making challenges faced by transportation departments, particularly as districts evaluate new vehicles, services and technologies, underscore the importance of planning, transparency and stakeholder input when making large-scale transportation investments.

April – Seeing Into the Future

One of the most-read magazine articles of the year looked at emerging AI trends shaping student transportation. Topics include predictive maintenance technologies, data-driven operations and forward-thinking approaches to safety and efficiency. The article encouraged readers to view innovation as a proactive tool rather than a reactive solution.

May – Q&A: Wyskiel Steers Blue Bird Toward Its Second Century

This Q&A featured leadership insights from Blue Bird President and CEO John Wyskiel, focusing on the company’s vision as it moves into its second century. The discussion touched on innovation, electrification, manufacturing priorities and the evolving needs of school districts.

June – Peeling Back the Routing Layers

Routing remains one of the most complex aspects of school transportation, and this article took a deep dive into the many variables that influence route design. From staffing shortages to bell times to special needs transportation, the piece highlighted how layered decision-making and technology tools can help districts improve efficiency and service reliability.

July – Leadership Perspectives on the Future of AI

This article examines how AI may shape the future of student transportation. Industry leaders share perspectives on potential applications, from routing and predictive maintenance to training and operations, while also addressing concerns around implementation, data, and workforce readiness.

August – 10 Years: Garage Stars

Celebrating a decade of recognizing excellence, this article highlights the critical role maintenance professionals play in student transportation. It honored the dedication, expertise and behind-the-scenes work of garage staff who keep fleets safe, reliable and road-ready every day.

September – Future-Focused Technology

This article explores technology solutions designed to support long-term transportation goals rather than short-term fixes. Topics included vehicle systems, software integration and tools that improve safety, accountability, and operational visibility for transportation departments.

October – Transportation Director Salaries by U.S. Region

Providing data-driven insight into compensation trends, this top-viewed article breaks down transportation director salaries by region across the contiguous U.S. It offers valuable benchmarking information amid ongoing workforce recruitment and retention challenges.

November – Rising Superstars

The most-viewed magazine article of 2025 spotlighted emerging leaders in the student transportation industry. By recognizing rising professionals making meaningful contributions, the article reflects the industry’s focus on mentorship, succession planning and cultivating the next generation of transportation leadership.

Related: (STN Podcast E240) 2024 in Review: Top STN Magazine Articles
Related: (STN Podcast E241) 2024 in Review: Top STN Online News Articles
Related: Top 10 Most Popular STN Web Articles of 2024
Related: 2024 STN Magazine Top Articles

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On Dec. 10, I attended a unique event held in Washington, D.C., hosted by school bus stop-arm camera and automated enforcement supplier Bus Patrol. The one-day National School Bus Safety Summit assimilated a wide range of child and school transportation safety stakeholders. The event received support from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide.

Those of us in the school bus business were by no means a large percentage of attendees. Far different from “our” conferences, where attendees share a common “yellow bus” point of view, this summit included non-profit safety advocate organizations and sectors of government not usually associated with school transportation. In fact, more than one speaker noted that they had never been to a school transportation event.

Attendees included representatives of governors highway safety offices, safe kids and Safe Routes to Schools organizations, law enforcement, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), researchers and more. They even included a few dozen students local to the D.C. area. NASDPTS Executive Director Ronna Weber and NAPT Executive Director and CEO Molly McGee Hewitt (a panelist) were also a part of the school bus audience, along with a handful of school transportation directors and NTSB staff that are well acquainted with school transportation safety issues. (I was disappointed NHTSA was not on the program or in attendance.)

The event format featured information shared by panels of experts followed by interactive tabletop discussions designed to capture takeaways from participants.

I already mentioned that the event was unique and, as such, I’m not sure anyone knew what to expect. I am conditioned to think that events sponsored by vendors and suppliers may be focused on product education or sales. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the 2025 School Bus Safety Summit indeed lived up to its name. With a possible exception of pre-summit activities I was not able to attend, there were no software demos or marketing materials, and my interactions with the Bus Patrol team had nothing to do with sales. It was all about how to improve safety and how best to deal with infractions of highway safety laws.

Kudos to Bus Patrol for delivering on the focus of school bus safety. They made a good effort at getting attendees out of their silos by spreading people out with assigned seating, designed to mix up the crowd.

In his opening remarks, Justin Meyers, Bus Patrol president and chief innovation officer, stated, “We called this summit as a cry for help.” Suggesting the need for a nationwide response, he cited the NASDPTS annual survey as evidence of a large illegal passing problem and implored attendees to brainstorm solutions around the table during the day.

While it’s not realistic to expect a solution to evolve from a one-day discussion, this could be a great first step if the conversation is able to continue.

I’ve been to the annual Lifesavers Conference on Road Safety, where the state highway safety office folks hang out, along with other safety advocates, researchers and law enforcement. School transportation is typically not a part of the focus. A review of a recent conference program confirms that, showing emphasis on occupant protection, distracted driving, law enforcement, pedestrian safety, vehicle technology, driver training and more.

But wait! Aren’t those topics relevant to school transportation, too? Absolutely!

I’m not suggesting that school bus safety should be a core topic of discussions at Lifesavers. (Or am I?) What I am suggesting is that there is a lot to be learned from the knowledge and energy of safety professionals working in similar safety areas. It seems that’s why they were brought together to discuss school bus safety.

The experiences and lessons are not that different. Here are a couple of points made from the podium that resonated with me.

Judge Kate Huffman of the Ohio 2nd District Court of Appeals noted that research indicates fines do not change behavior, and that judges want to change behavior. She noted there are resources for judges in dealing with drunk driving offenders such as curriculum aimed at changing behavior. But there is nothing out there for illegal passing.

“School bus safety is pedestrian safety.” That point was made by Marisa Jones, managing director of the Safe Routes to School Partnership. This is a core concept in NHTSA’s Planning Safer Stops and Routes Toolkit, which notes that every student is a pedestrian before they board the bus or after the disembark, and they need to learn to be safe pedestrians.

Related: WATCH: West Virginia Releases Illegal Passing Awareness Video
Related: Parents Speak Out After Motorists Target Son with Disabilities at School Bus Stop
Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology

An unexpected piece of advice was shared by Anthony Baldoni of AXON, a public safety technology company. “Don’t lead with the tech. Lead with the objective.” This advice really resonated with me, having spent a lot of time with technology through the years. Whether the topic is using cameras to prosecute stop arm violators or GPS to let parents know where their child’s bus is, gaining support for an initiative comes first by getting support for the objective and then applying the technology.

These are just a few of the points made through the course of the six-plus hour summit. But the points were made by speakers and audience members that don’t typically operate in the school transportation space. (NTSB, NAPT and, of course, Bus Patrol are the exceptions to that statement.) Bus Patrol and GHSA brought this group together to have important conversations and my hope is that this can serve as a model for other collaborations at the national, state or local level to bring school bus safety to the table when other highway safety issues are being discussed, or at least foster relationships that allow for collaboration aimed at improving safety for students as they travel to and from school.

Closing the summit and implying that it would be an annual event, Justin Meyers, said that GHSA will be “memorializing” the events of the day, preparing a national blueprint, moving the attendees from awareness to action. GHSA CEO Jonathan Adkins noted a historical emphasis on “drunk, drugged and distracted driving” but stated that there is now support to add school bus safety to the list, and GHSA will make it a priority going forward.

I’m looking forward to seeing the blueprint derived from the collective thoughts of the attendees that we can use to improve school transportation safety.

Derek Graham is the retired state director of student transportation for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and is currently an industry consultant. He will present on the topic illegal school bus passing at STN EXPO East in Concord, North Carolina, on March 27.

The post A Unique Gathering and a Cry for Help appeared first on School Transportation News.

Last month, National School Bus Safety Week was highlighted with videos, PSAs, social media posts and press releases in support of building awareness to the communities we live in and serve. Most of the content I saw specifically highlighted illegal passing awareness. I watched a video shared by the West Virgina Department of Education with the state police department that was simply shocking.

Jimmy Lacy, the transportation director for the state’s Department of Education, and Sgt. Travis Bailes of the Charleston Police Department outline the impact on student safety and state regulations regarding illegal passing. Lacy commented on my social media post, “This is a tough video to watch.”

The video showed footage of a white compact car traveling at a high-rate speed on a two-lane road in a rural area, nearly missing a child crossing the road after exiting their school bus. This near miss could have easily ended in tragedy. You can watch it for yourself at stnonline.com/go/nx.

Another impressive PSA was the brainchild of Katrina Morris, executive director of the Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation and the recent winner of the Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award at STN EXPO WEST.

“Tony, I have this idea about getting a famous NASCAR driver to promote school bus safety and illegal passing awareness” Morris told me months earlier at STN EXPO EAST in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Her idea turned into reality, in partnership with ROUSH CleanTech, Blue Bird and other partners, highlighting awareness of illegal passing of stopped school buses. The video features NASCAR driver Ryan Preece at the RFK Racing Museum in Concord, North Carolina. You can watch it at stnonline.com/go/ny.

Doe these efforts move the needle of awareness around illegal passing? Not sure we get a true read on the outcomes of National School Bus Safety Week, but some effort needs to be made by our industry to curb the 39.3 million motorists thought to illegally pass school buses nationwide each year, according to the recent study by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS).

Engaging the star power of public figures like Ryan Preece might increase interest from mainstream media to get more coverage regarding school bus safety. With the right messaging, we can shift the narrative toward one that highlights the progress we’re making as an industry with a focus on safety and kids. In many cases, the gap between public awareness boils down to the need for broad scale communication to the masses.

The public simply doesn’t understand—or care about, as a NHTSA survey recently found—the rules of the road when it comes to school buses.

Most people understand that the yellow school bus is more than a means of transportation. At least they should. It’s a symbol of family, schools, education and community. The time is now for us to redefine the public’s perception to also build a message around safety. What can you do to enhance safety? Consider investing in innovative crossing control technologies like illuminated signage, crossing gates and LEDs.

“The fully illuminated school bus sign and stop arm can dramatically increase the visibility of a school bus by up to 88 percent in low-light situations according to our efficacy study” said Kevin Smith, president at First Light Safety Company. “Consider that OEMs like IC Bus have standardized this equipment as of August 2025. That is very significant!”

Why wouldn’t you invest in safety technology that works? Is it simply that budget is prioritized over safety? Foundationally as an industry we tout our impressive safety record in school transportation, but we aren’t perfect. Fatalities, injuries and crashes will happen. Are school transportation operations making a best effort to prevent that?

I recommend you take a second look at the available safety equipment, technology and training available to you from partners. Industry trade shows and conferences like TSD, NAPT and STN EXPO offer a great hands-on experiences to demo the products for yourself. Let’s keep driving safety forward, together!

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the November 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: (STN Podcast E281) Catalyst for Change: Electric School Bus Safety, Inspired Texas Rising Star
Related: Florida District Introduces Innovative Safety Training for School Bus Drivers
Related: (STN Podcast E267) I Believe in This: Illegal Passing Drops & Michigan Pupil Transportation Leader Speaks
Related: Missouri Students Learn School Bus, Fire Safety During Back-to-School Bash

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Despite the federal government shut down and amid students continuing to die or be injured in the school bus “Danger Zone,” the Senate agreed on the importance of child safety with a resolution designating October 2025 as School Bus Safety Month.

Introduced by Sens. Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Gary Peters of Michigan, Senate Resolution 484 was filed on Nov. 5 and the full chamber agreed via unanimous consent to the language Monday. But it was originally scheduled for a vote on Oct. 1, the first day of the government shutdown.

“We stayed on them every day to get together and vote on it even with the government shutdown, which was very hard to do,” said Ward Leber, founder of the Child Safety Network, which has been the organization championing the resolution since 2013, when current Senate Majority Leader John Thune threw his full support behind it. “When both sides knew internally a deal was going to happen to reopen within a few days, our constant pushing paid off.”

Leber said this year’s resolution is dedicated to the memories of two 11-year-old girls who were killed as they were boarding and exiting their school buses.

“As a sergeant, a supervisor of school resource officers, and most of all as a father, I know the deadly outcome that can occur when drivers illegally pass school buses,” said Sgt. Dan Sperry, who spoke at STN EXPO West in 2016. “My 11-year-old daughter Makayla died in my arms just after stepping off her bus. I am proud to serve alongside the volunteers of CSN’s Senior Advisory Board, and grateful for all of the dedicated school bus professionals working every day to prevent another family from suffering a preventable tragedy.”

Leandra Backner, whose daughter was killed in 2022 after she tripped and was run over by her school bus, said “it warms my hear that the U.S. Senate has upheld School Bus Safety Month since 2013, honoring Annaliese’s memory through its ongoing commitment to safety.”

Sen. Peters said in a statement parents should have “peace of mind that when they drop their kids off at the bus stop, they will get to school and back home safely.”

The resolution results in funding for an NFL-themed PSA that alerts the public when it’s not safe to pass, especially when a stopped school bus is involved. The program is scheduled to launch in early 2026 around the Super Bowl.

It also touts the CSN Safe Ride campaign that offers school bus driver training, school bus technology, and free safety and security resources to school districts. To date, CSN said it has provided security awareness training materials to over 14,000 public and private schools, trained over 125,000 school bus operators and provided more than 175,000 counter-terrorism guides.

Peters also introduced last month the Brake for Kids Act to create a PSA about the dangers of illegally passing school buses.

In his home state, the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation recently filmed a PSA with NASCAR driver Ryan Preece, a member of the RFK Racing Team owned by Jack Roush, the founder and chairman of Roush Enterprises that includes ROUSH CleanTech. The company provides propane autogas and gasoline fuel systems to Blue Bird in partnership with Ford.

Related: STN EXPO Speaker to Discuss Daughter’s School Bus Death
Related: Colorado Senate Approves $5.5M to Improve School Bus Safety
Related: School Bus Drivers, “What’s Important Now?”
Related: Senate Recognizes School Bus Safety Month in ‘Tribute Year’

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Following a media report last month of a Waymo vehicle passing a school bus in Atlanta, Georgia, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a preliminary evaluation into the autonomous Uber option.

The evaluation is set to “investigate the performance of the Waymo (Automated Driving System) around stopped school buses, how the system is designed to comply with school bus traffic safety laws and the system’s ability to follow those traffic safety laws. During this investigation, NHTSA will seek to identify the scope of the issue presented by this incident and identify any other similar incidents,” the report states.

Waymo and Uber announced a partnership in select cities around the U.S., starting in Phoenix and expanding to Atlanta and Austin. Riders in these cities have the option to hail autonomous rides through the Uber app. Rides can also be booked through the Waymo app in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

However, the Waymo vehicle was captured on video Sept. 22 illegally passing a stopped school bus that was unloading children.

NHTSA opened the preliminary evaluation Oct. 17. In INOA-PE2503, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation states that a Waymo autonomous vehicle, or AV, failed to remain stopped “when approaching a school bus that was stopped with its red lights flashing, stop arm deployed and crossing control arm deployed.”

Related: Waymo Driverless Car Illegally Passes Stopped School Bus in Atlanta
Related: WATCH: West Virginia Releases Illegal Passing Awareness Video
Related: WATCH: Michigan Association Releases Illegal Passing PSA for School Bus Safety Week
Related: Feeling Super About Transportation Technology?

The report states that Waymo AV approached the right side of the school bus from a perpendicular side street. “The AV initially stopped but then drove around the front of the bus by briefly turning right to avoid running into the bus’s right front end, then turning left to pass in front of the bus and then turning further left and driving down the roadway past the entire left side of the bus. During this maneuver, the Waymo AV passed the bus’s extended crossing control arm near disembarking students (on the bus’s right side) and passed the extended stop arm on the bus’s left side,” the report continued.

At the time of the incident, the Waymo AV was operated by Waymo’s 5th Generation Automated Driving System and no safety operator was present in the vehicle. The report noted that Waymo has surpassed 100 million miles of driving as of July, approximately 2 million miles logged per week.

“Based on NHTSA’s engagement with Waymo on this incident and the accumulation of operational miles, the likelihood of other prior similar incidents is high,” the report states.

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For National School Bus Safety Week, the West Virginia Department of Education partnered with the state police department to create a video that is a sobering reminder of the dangers of illegal passing. The video shows footage of a student getting off the school bus and nearly being struck by a motorist driving past the stopped bus. Jimmy Lacy, the transportation director for the state’s Department of Education, and Sgt. Travis Bailes of the Charleston Police Department outline the impact on student safety and state regulations regarding illegal passing.

Related: WATCH: Michigan Association Releases Illegal Passing PSA for School Bus Safety Week
Related: Wisconsin State Police, School Bus Association Promote School Bus Safety
Related: Gallery: National School Bus Safety Week 2024

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YARDVILLE, N.J. —During National School Bus Safety Week (NSBSW), highlighted on October 20 through October 24, 2025, organizations from across the country including the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, Blue Bird Corporation and ROUSH CleanTech are joining the nationwide call to remind motorists that stopping for a school bus is not optional—it’s the law and will prevent avoidable tragedies.

To raise awareness, RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece appears in a new video campaign showing that even professional drivers stop for school buses. In the video, Preece, who drives the No. 60 car, reinforces the message that safety around school buses is everyone’s responsibility—no matter how much experience you have behind the wheel.

You can access the video here: RFK Racing & Ryan Preece PSA

This message is especially critical in light of recent findings released by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). Each school day, millions of students across the U.S. depend on the yellow school bus—the safest form of student transportation—to get to and from school. Yet, new data from the NASDPTS reveals that illegal passings of stopped school buses remain a major threat to student safety.

According to NASDPTS’s thirteenth annual National Stop Arm Violation Survey, released at the 2025 NSTA Annual Meeting and Convention in Boston, 114,239 school bus drivers in 36 states and the District of Columbia reported 67,258 vehicles illegally passing their stopped buses in just one day during the 2024–2025 school year. When projected across all U.S. school bus drivers, that’s more than 39.3 million violations per year. Although this marks a decrease from 45.2 million violations in the previous year, the issue remains alarming.

The annual survey, conducted since 2011, highlights the ongoing need for education, enforcement, and vigilance to prevent these dangerous incidents. In recent years, several states have strengthened penalties, authorized camera-based enforcement, and implemented new awareness campaigns—all steps toward safer roads for students.

Additionally, NSTA has spearheaded a national effort to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal school bus passings through their support of the “Brake for Kids Act” (H.R.2348/S.2812) – an initiative sponsored by Reps. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Rudy Yakym (IN-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Seth Moulton(MA-06), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), as well as Senators Todd Young (IN) and Gary Peters (MI).

According to its description, the bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to produce and distribute a national public safety campaign on the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses. Specifically, the campaign must increase awareness and education about the issue through a variety of media, including television, radio, and social media advertising. “Illegal school bus passings have continued on our roadways, despite the best efforts of student transportation professionals to curb this dangerous and illegal practice. Public Awareness campaigns like this provide the ability to reach a wide target audience with the hope that our message resonates,” said Patrick Dean, NSTA President, as well as President of Dean Transportation in Michigan.

“As evidenced by the release of this video, student transportation stands unified in our quest to eliminate incidences of illegal school passings throughout the United States. Public messaging remains one tool at our disposal, and I call on motorists, law enforcement, and the court system to do their part as well to help alleviate this vexing problem,” Curt Macysyn, NSTA Executive Director concluded. NSTA would like to thank the Michigan Association for Student Transportation (MAPT) and ROUSH CleanTech for their leadership in this project. For more information about school bus safety, please go to School Bus Facts – website hosted by NSTA at https://www.schoolbusfacts.com

The post When the School Bus Reds are Flashing, There is No Passing Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Driver Ryan Preece Reminds Motorists to Protect Students on the Road appeared first on School Transportation News.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) supports School Bus Safety Week and is a proud sponsor of the video campaign featuring RFK Racing drive Ryan Preece who proclaimed, “even professional drivers stop for school bus” https://youtu.be/wGEDFwkRfys.

While during School Bus Safety Week we celebrate the professionals that ensure the safe travel of students to and from school each and every day, NASDPTS estimates there were more than 39.3 million illegal passings of stopped school buses in the past year based on our 2025 survey (https://www.nasdpts.org/stop-arm-violations“) NASDPTS reminds all drivers to slow down and to stop for stopped school buses. The safety of every child depends on it,” offered NASDPTS President Mike Stier. “We in the school transportation industry have a very important job to do, and we take great pride in doing our job well, but the safe transportation of children to and from school takes every one of us. Drivers aren’t paying attention, and they aren’t focused on the right things. What could be more important than the safety of a child?” added Stier.

NASDPTS thanks the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) for the opportunity to co-sponsor the Ryan Preece video and appreciates their efforts to draw attention to the problem of illegal passing of stopped school buses.

Additional School Bus Safety Week information can be found here: https://nasdpts.org/SBSW

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As schools reopen, students are flooding back to campuses on foot, bicycles, cars and school buses, bringing with them a spike in safety risks. The chaotic rush of drop-offs and pickups creates a perfect storm of traffic congestion, stressed drivers and heightened dangers around school zones.

With nearly 60 percent of parents citing concerns about school bus safety, pedestrian crossings and traffic management, according to a 2024 National Association of Elementary School Principals survey, the start of the
school year underscores safety challenges.

The frenzied pace of these early weeks amplifies risks, as distracted or hurried drivers navigate crowded school zones, increasing the likelihood of crashes. Data from Safe Kids Worldwide notes one in three drivers engage in unsafe behaviors during school drop-offs, while a 2024 National Center for Education Statistics survey noted 38 percent of school leaders see traffic patterns as a threat to student safety.

The question looms: Have safety measures kept pace with the growing hazards of the 2025 school start-up season?

According to the most recent National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services one day illegal passing survey, 218,000 illegal passing incidents were reported by 114,471 school bus drivers, or 31 percent of the nation’s total. These drivers reported a total of 69,408 vehicles passed their buses illegally. Extrapolated for a 180-day school year across all 50 states, 39.3 million illegal passes occur. The one-day count does represent a 13-percent decrease over last year’s 45.2 million but illegal passing remains a massive safety issue.

Last month, the Automobile Club of Southern California, an affiliate of AAA, shared specific tips for navigating school zones safely on social network X. It specifically advised “Watch for School Buses” and reminded drivers to slow down when a school bus yellow lights flash and to stop completely when red lights flash and the stop arm is extended.

AAA also emphasizes eliminating distractions like phone use, as distracted driving contributes to 4,000 to 8,000 crashes daily across the U.S. Drivers should put phones on “Do Not Disturb” or pull over safely to respond to urgent calls or texts.

Jeff Cassell from the School Bus Safety Company recently reminded me of behavioral norms, or the way we act without thinking about it. Norms are very powerful and govern most of what we do. For example, a safe driver always tries to stay at least four seconds in distance behind the vehicle they are following. They do this automatically as a norm. Cassell said following from a safe distance is an important practice, but there are dozens more safe practices we need to implement.

After extensive studies, he’s clearly identified 22 unsafe behaviors that lead to almost every crash. Cassell provided several recommendations to help prevent crashes around school buses. He emphasized minimizing student street crossings whenever possible, educating students on safe crossing practices, informing parents about these procedures, ensuring school bus drivers enforce them, and considering an extended stop arm.

Cassell also suggested specific morning and afternoon guidelines for students and parents. In the morning, students should wait at least 10 feet (five big steps) from the edge of the roadway, look at the bus driver after the bus stops, cross only when signaled by the driver, and walk directly across without running. In the afternoon, students should walk 10 feet away from the bus, move 10 feet ahead of the bus or crossing arm at the front of the bus, look at the driver and cross only when signaled. They should always check for traffic and wait if uncertain about moving vehicles. By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of crossing accidents.

I recommend highlighting School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 20-24. It’s a great time to bring awareness to the dangers that exist around schools and school buses.

Also, NHTSA recently released updated School Bus Safety Resources, including shareable graphics, videos and statistics. Visit www.nhtsa.gov/school-buses to download the materials.

Leadership training around safety starts with leaders like you who can influence a culture of safety. I recommend you reinforce positive behaviors and establish norms to keep your school bus drivers, kids and parents updated about safe behaviors around the school bus. Safety and the elimination of risk should always be a main priority.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the September 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: (STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports
Related: School Bus Safety Company Unveils New Leadership Training Course to Elevate Safety Leadership
Related: Wisconsin State Police, School Bus Association Promote School Bus Safety
Related: Georgia Middle School Student Wins National School Bus Safety Poster Contest

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Introduced last month, the bipartisan Brake for Kids Act hopes to create a public service announcement on the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus.

Introduced on Sept. 16 by Sens. Todd Young of Indiana and Gary Peters of Michigan, it directs the “Secretary of Transportation to carry out a national public safety messaging campaign relating to the dangers of illegal passing of stopped school buses, and for other purposes.”

The PSA campaign would need to be released and distributed no later than one year after the enactment. It would include television advertisements on national broadcasts as well as radio, social media and other messaging.

Both senators have been involved in trying to prevent illegal school bus crossings, introducing the Stop for School Buses Act in 2019 and 2021.

“Every school year, far too many illegal school bus passings occur, which puts the lives of students at risk. Our bill will raise awareness about the dangers of passing a stopped school bus to help ensure that our kids make it to and from school safely,” said Young in a press release.

U.S. Reps. Rudy Yakym, Pete Stauber, Seth Moulton and Julia Brownley introduced companion legislation in the House.

“Parents need to know their kids are safe taking the bus to and from school,” Peters said in a release. “That’s why I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to raise awareness of the dangers of illegally passing school buses and promote best practices for making our communities safer.”

Meanwhile, the National School Transportation Association released a statement applauding the introduction of the legislation. “The Brake for Kids Act is an essential step to help protect students and alleviate preventable tragedies,” said Patrick Dean, NSTA president. “Illegal school bus passings are a national crisis, and this legislation provides a platform for student transportation to raise awareness, change behavior, and prevent these all-too-frequent incidents.”

Related: Waymo Driverless Car Illegally Passes Stopped School Bus in Atlanta
Related: Wisconsin State Police, School Bus Association Promote School Bus Safety
Related: Michigan Association Films Illegal School Bus Passing PSA with NASCAR’s Preece
Related: New York Association Urges Motorists to Stop for School Buses at Startup
Related: NASDPTS Revises Illegal School Bus Passing Count After California Fixes Error

NSTA cited the 2025 National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services survey released this summer, noting that more than 114,000 school bus drivers across the U.S. reported 67,258 violations in a single day. While lower than in years past, NASDPTS extrapolated that motorists nationwide still illegally pass school buses tens of millions of times during the school year.

“NSTA believes that a nationwide safety campaign will close knowledge gaps, strengthen driver education, and save lives,” the press release adds.

The post Federal Bill Aims to Increase Awareness of Illegal School Bus Passing appeared first on School Transportation News.

A driverless car operated by Waymo is under scrutiny after it was caught on video illegally passing a stopped school bus that was letting children off in Atlanta, reported WBIR News.

The incident occurred Monday afternoon and was recorded by a woman who witnessed the incident. Georgia state Rep. Clint Crowe said he was shocked after seeing the footage.

“I’m a big fan of new technologies and emerging technologies, and I think driverless cars are going to become more common,” Crowe said. “But we have to think about how they’re going to comply with the law.”

According to the news report, Crowe co-sponsored Addy’s Law in 2024, which was named after 8-year-old Addy Pierce. Pierce was killed in Henry County after being hit while crossing the street to get to her school bus. The law increased penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus, with fines up to $1,000 and possible jail time.

Crowe emphasized that these laws also apply to autonomous vehicles.

“The majority of our traffic laws come with penalties like fines or driver’s license suspension,” he explained via the article. “These cars don’t have drivers or licenses, so we really have to rethink who is responsible. Who’s in control of the vehicle? Who is the operator?”

Crowe said he believes automobile manufacturers should face stronger consequences when their autonomous vehicles break the law, saying the current $1,000 fine isn’t enough. Other lawmakers agree.

“Driverless cars should be stopped until it can be figured out,” said State Sen. Rick Williams, one of the authors of Addy’s Law. “We should not have this on the road. It’s too dangerous for our children” he said via the article.

Williams said he plans to introduce new legislation that would increase penalties on driverless car companies when their vehicles violate traffic laws. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.

Waymo said in a statement via the article that “the trust and safety of the communities we serve is our top priority. We continuously refine our system’s performance to navigate complex scenarios and are looking into this further.”

Related: (STN Podcast E267) I Believe in This: Illegal Passing Drops & Michigan Pupil Transportation Leader Speaks
Related: Georgia Gov Signs Law Following Fatal Illegal Passing Incident
Related: Addy’s Law in Georgia, Targets Illegal Passers of School Buses
Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology

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The Wisconsin State Patrol and the Wisconsin School Bus Association successfully completed Operation Safe Stop Week, a statewide campaign held from Sept. 22 to 26, aimed at improving student safety and raising awareness about school bus laws.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) previously announced the joint effort in a press release, highlighting its focus on public education, increased enforcement around school buses, and efforts to curb dangerous driving behaviors near student pick-up and drop-off zones.

During the week, authorities carried out targeted enforcement at high-risk bus stops, conducted vehicle inspections, and launched public outreach initiatives. The campaign’s primary goal was to reduce illegal passing incidents and ensure that students could travel to and from school without danger.

Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “The partnership with the Wisconsin School Bus Association and its drivers is essential in keeping both students and other road users safe. It’s critical that every driver understands and follows the rules of the road, especially around school buses.”

In 2024, over 1,200 citations were issued across Wisconsin to drivers who failed to stop for school buses with flashing red lights. Under state law, all drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a bus when its red lights are flashing, unless traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway. Buses also use amber lights to warn drivers that a stop is approaching.

Leading up to the campaign, the Wisconsin School Bus Association (WSBA) identified high-risk areas for illegal passing. Wisconsin State Patrol officers closely monitored these locations and performed safety checks to ensure bus warning systems were operating properly.

Cherie Hime, executive director of WSBA, noted via the release the ongoing commitment to student safety. “This initiative continues to serve as a vital effort to protect children and promote safe transportation. WSBA members are thankful for the long-standing partnership with the Wisconsin State Patrol on this important educational campaign,” she added.

As of March 2024, stricter penalties under Wisconsin Act 154 are now in effect. Motorists who fail to stop for a school bus face a $676.50 fine and four demerit points on their license.

Related: School Bus Safety Company Unveils New Leadership Training Course to Elevate Safety Leadership
Related: Georgia School District Removes Multiple Bus Drivers Over Safety Violations
Related: Does Safety Save Money?
Related: Wisconsin District Holds School Bus Test Drive Event

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