School bells are ringing again, and millions of students are flooding back to campuses by foot, bicycle, car, van and the yellow school bus.

That spike in commuter activity around schools carries greater safety risks for students. Parents’ frenzied pace rushing to drop-off and pick-up kids creates increased traffic congestion, stressed drivers and heightened dangers around school zones.

Last month, an article published by the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) shared a message urging drivers to slow down, put the phone down and save a life.

“Back-to-school isn’t just a milestone for families. It’s a reminder for every driver to slow down and stay focused,” said AAA spokeswoman Kandace Redd. “Children can be unpredictable. They may dart into the street, step out from between parked cars, or be distracted while walking. We all have a responsibility to expect the unexpected and drive accordingly.”

The AAA report specifically highlighted the hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. as being among the deadliest times for child pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly onethird of child pedestrian fatalities occur during those after-school hours, when students are walking and rolling home or playing outside.

As school buses again navigate the roadways en masse, a pressing question emerges. Have training programs, safety measures and technology kept pace with the growing hazards of the 2026-2027 school year?

According to the most recent National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) one-day illegal passing survey, 56,024 illegal passing incidents were reported by 101,334 school bus drivers, or 26.2 percent of the nation’s total. Adjusting for 100 percent of the school bus drivers in the U.S., NASDPTS extrapolated just over 213,800 illegal passings occur each day. Projected across a 180-day school year, NASDPTS said its survey indicate the potential of more than 38.4 million violations.

It does represent a modest 2.3 percent decrease over last year’s figure of 39.3 million, but the survey also clearly highlights the scale of this major safety challenge.

Meanwhile, have you seen the public service announcements created by the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation and its Executive Director Katrina Morris, in partnership with numerous organizations?

These videos deliver an impactful message about the dangers of illegally passing school buses. They also harness star power by featuring NASCAR driver Ryan Preece and former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown to help spread that message.

Recently, Jeff Cassell from the School Bus Safety Company reminded me that many motorists display conscious and deliberate unsafe behaviors. He’s identified 22 unsafe behaviors that lead to almost every incident like distracted driving or following too closely.

“These are behavioral norms,” he said. “It’s the way we act automatically doing things as second nature without even thinking about it. Norms are very powerful and govern most of what we do.”

Cassell recommended reminding motorists, school bus drivers and children of these behaviors to help prevent incidents around school buses. He emphasized minimizing student crossovers 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 to ensure that passing vehicles stop.

He also suggested specific morning and afternoon guidelines for students and parents. Each morning, students should wait at least 10 feet from the edge of the roadway, look at the school bus driver after the bus stops, cross the street 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 gate, 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, student transporters and parents
can significantly reduce the risk of crossing accidents.
I highly recommend watching the video “How to Achieve World Class Safety” created by the School Bus Safety Company. Also, consider highlighting School Bus Safety Week Oct. 19-23 to bring awareness to the dangers that exist around schools and school buses in your community.

Leaders can influence change and support a culture of
safety that reinforces positive behaviors. It’s our duty to
keep school bus drivers, kids and parents updated about
safe behaviors around the school bus. If we don’t do it,
no one will.

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

Related: ‘Meet the Bus’ Event Teaches Young Riders School Bus Safety
Related: South Dakota Highway Patrol Launches School Bus Safety Outreach Week
Related: Ohio State Highway Patrol Urges Motorists to Prioritize School Bus Safety
Related: Oregon School Bus Driver Crowned Grand Champion at International Safety Competition

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