National School Bus Safety Week is October 19 through 23, 2026, and Verra Mobility is providing a free toolkit with ready-to-use resources that schools, school districts, and community organizations can share this week and throughout the year. The milestone offers an opportunity for schools, transportation professionals, families, students, and drivers to reinforce the everyday actions that help keep children safe on and around school buses.

While illegal school bus passing is declining, too many children remain at risk. The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services estimates that 38.4 million illegal school bus passings occurred during the 2025-2026 school year, down from 39.3 million the previous year and 45.2 million two years earlier. The numbers represent an approximately 15% decline over two years.

Even with this improvement, drivers illegally pass stopped school buses an estimated 213,800 times on a typical school day. Parents and caregivers see the danger firsthand: 37% say they have witnessed an illegal school bus passing, and 33% have seen a near miss near a stopped school bus.

The toolkit makes it easier to share clear, consistent school bus safety information with families, staff, and the broader community. Resources include:

• Social media copy and graphics that raise awareness of illegal passing and safe driving around school buses.
• Educational content for websites, newsletters, and family communications.

Materials in the linked toolkit are Copyright 2026 Verra Mobility Corporation. All rights reserved. Schools, school boards, and non-profit organizations are licensed to copy, redistribute, reproduce, copy, and adapt materials in the toolkit for the sole purposes of safety messaging.

Download the 2026 National School Bus Safety Week Toolkit

Raising awareness is an important part of school bus safety, but it must be reinforced through the choices we make every day. Whether behind the wheel, accompanying a child to the bus stop, or riding the bus, everyone has a role in helping students travel safely. Keep these reminders in mind during National School Bus Safety Week and throughout the school year.

Drivers:

• Come to a complete stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and extends its stop arm, as required by state law.
• Remain stopped until the red lights turn off, the stop arm retracts, and the bus begins moving.
• Slow down, stay alert, and eliminate distractions near school buses, bus stops, and school zones.

Parents and Caregivers:

• Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pickup.
  Teach children to wait at least 10 feet, or five giant steps, away from the road.
• Remind children never to walk behind a school bus and to wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing.
• Tell children to alert the driver if they drop something near the bus instead of retrieving it themselves.

Students:

• Wait until the bus stops completely and the door opens before approaching.
  Stay where the bus driver can see you.
• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
• Cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus, never directly in front of or behind it.

Education is essential, but communities also need tools that reinforce traffic laws and hold dangerous drivers accountable. At Verra Mobility, we go beyond raising awareness; we prioritize making a lasting difference in communities. Our school bus stop arm technology not only holds violators accountable, but it also changes driver behavior.

Across Verra Mobility programs, 98% of drivers cited for illegally passing a stopped school bus did not repeat the offense. Programs also saw an average 67% decline in stop-arm citations from the beginning to the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

For more information on Verra Mobility’s school bus stop arm safety program, visit verramobility.com/government/school-bus-safety.

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NEW YORK, NY — The New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) announced today that they will be holding Operation Safe Stop events around the state. The annual event helps promote school bus safety and educates the public about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights.

“Stop on red, our kids are ahead – that’s the Operation Safe Stop motto,” said David Christopher, Executive Director of NYAPT. “While the main focus is to remind drivers to stop for stopped school buses so we can keep our school children safe, it is important to note that law enforcement across the state will be out in force following yellow school buses and issuing tickets to those drivers who violate the law.”

This year’s Operation Safe Stop takes place Wednesday, October 21, 2026. It is a cooperative educational and enforcement project supported by NYAPT along with the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the New York State Education Department, the New York State School Bus Contractors Association, New York State Bus Distributors Association, the student transportation industry and state, county, city, and local law enforcement agencies.

“The illegal passing of stopped school buses is one of the major safety issues that our school bus drivers and students face on the ride to and from school daily,” said John Spacht, President of NYAPT. “We ask the public to avoid distractions while driving, be aware that school buses are on our roadways, and to stop when they see the red lights flashing on a school bus. A child’s life depends on motorists to drive carefully and do the right thing and stop for the bus.”

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires all vehicles to come to a complete stop when approaching a stopped school bus with red lights flashing. Those lights indicate that a child is either boarding or disembarking a school bus. New York State law prohibits passing a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing, regardless of the direction of travel, even on a multi-lane or divided highway.

NYAPT Operation Safe Stop Committee Chair, Jasen Hibbart, Chenango Valley Central School District, urges motorists to look out for our children, “Our children shouldn’t have to worry about motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus. Slow down and watch for school buses and children. Stop when you see the red lights.”

Law enforcement will follow buses, looking for illegal passings. Penalties for a first-time offense of illegally passing a school bus include a fine of $250 to $400, five points on your driver’s license, and the possibility of up to 30 days in jail. A second conviction within three years may result in a fine of $600 to $750, five points on your license, and up to 180 days in jail. Three or more convictions will result in a fine of $750 to $1,500, 5 points on your license, and up to 180 days in jail.

Additionally, for those school districts and municipalities that choose to use automatic ticketing stop arm cameras on school buses, state law allows fines to be levied on the owner of any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus, beginning at $250 for a first violation and up to $300 for subsequent violations.

NYAPT also noted that the 2.3 million children who ride school buses in New York State are driven by qualified and well-trained school bus drivers on routes carefully planned for safety, on buses that are maintained at the highest safety standards, and that school transportation officials are doing their best to keep students safe when they are on or near a school bus.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, students are 70 times safer riding a school bus to school than in a private car. See www.nhtsa.gov

The list below represents NYAPT chapters that are holding Operation Safe Stop Day public awareness events across the state on October 21, 2026.

Capital Region: Shaker Road/Loudonville
Fire Department 550 Albany Shaker Road
9:30 AM
Contact: Jerry Keenan

Rochester Area: Henrietta Fire Station #6
60 Erie Station Road Henrietta, NY
9:30 AM
Contact: David Richardson

Central New York Area: Lafayette Central School District
Transportation Department 5955 US 20 Lafayette, NY
10:30 AM
Contact: Christine Finch

Buffalo Area: Springville Central School District Transportation Department
369 North Street Springville, NY
10:30 AM
Contact: Eric Nagel

Suffolk County: Patchogue-Medford School District
Saxton Middle School 121 Saxton Street Patchogue, NY
11:00 AM
Contact: John Ryan

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The Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin School Bus Association are partnering during Operation Safe Stop Week to educate motorists and increase enforcement around school buses.

The annual campaign running this week focuses on preventing drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses and ensuring buses are being operated safely, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said motorists must remain attentive and follow traffic laws whenever they encounter a school bus.

“Every time a driver fails to stop for a school bus, children are put at serious risk of a tragic outcome that no family should have to experience,” Carnahan said. “To keep children safe, drivers need their full attention on the road every time they get behind the wheel.”

He urged drivers to obey posted speed limits, monitor their surroundings and slow down or stop when approaching a school bus. Those actions are particularly important while students are boarding or exiting buses, he added.

More than 1,300 citations were issued last year to Wisconsin motorists for failing to stop for a school bus, the release states.

Wisconsin law requires drivers traveling in both directions to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when its red warning lights are flashing. Motorists traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop if the road is divided by a median or another physical barrier.

School buses on routes also use flashing amber lights to notify motorists that the bus is preparing to stop. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the amber lights activate, as they warns motorists that the red flashing lights are next.

Collaboration With Law Enforcement

As part of Operation Safe Stop Week, the Wisconsin School Bus Association works with its members to identify bus stops where illegal passing frequently occurs. State patrol officers are then assigned to monitor those locations, with an emphasis on identifying drivers who illegally pass buses or engage in other dangerous behavior.

Officers also visit other areas of concern within their respective regions and follow school buses along their routes to determine whether motorists are following traffic laws. The enforcement activity is intended to help protect students as they travel to and from school.

The partnership also allows officers to meet with school bus drivers and verify that warning lights and other safety equipment on their vehicles are operating properly.

“This week-long initiative is dedicated to protecting Wisconsin’s children and ensuring their safety,” Cherie Hime, the association executive director. “WSBA members are grateful for the partnership with the Wisconsin State Patrol on this annual education event over the past nine years.”

Hime added that public awareness and compliance are critical to maintaining safe student transportation.

Wisconsin increased the penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus through Act 154, which was enacted in March 2024. A citation for failing to stop for a bus displaying flashing lights now carries a $676.50 fine and four demerit points.

Operation Safe Stop Week combines enforcement with education intended to remind motorists that children may be entering the roadway near a stopped bus. Additional school bus safety information is available through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin School Bus Association websites.

Related: (STN Podcast E305) It’s Your Job: Industry Legend Dick Fischer Talks School Bus Safety, Training
Related: Ohio School Bus Drivers Complete Annual Safety Training
Related: South Dakota Highway Patrol Launches School Bus Safety Outreach Week
Related: (STN Podcast E297) Deep Dive into Safety: Illegal Passing & Child Restraints, Plus Green Bus Funding

The post Operation Safe Stop Campaign Targets Illegal School Bus Passing in Wisconsin appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 39-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly driving past a stopped school bus and hitting an elementary school student who was crossing the road to board the bus, reported WKYT News.

The collision reportedly occurred Aug. 20 at approximately 7:08 a.m. A school bus was stopped with its federally mandated stop arm extended and red lights flashing, when police said a vehicle driven by Ashley Parsons, 39, passed the bus and struck the child, who was not identified at this writing. Parsons did not stop at the scene.

The student was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Scott County Schools, which began the new school year Aug. 12, identified the child as a student at Southern Elementary School.

Capt. Lewis Crump of the Georgetown Police said investigators used an image captured by a camera inside the school bus and tips from community members to identify and arrest Parsons within hours of the incident.

Parsons faces charges of aggravated driving under the influence, first-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and passing a loading school bus.

“A school bus stop should never be a dangerous place for a child,” Crump said. “It’s extremely important that we pay attention to these school buses; they’re painted yellow for a reason, they have flashing lights on them for a reason.”

Scott County School leaders said staff members contacted the parents of students who were on the bus when the collision occurred. Students and classmates also made get-well cards for the injured child, which the school principal planned to deliver.

“We are thankful for the quick response and ongoing partnership with our local emergency service providers and the Georgetown Police Department,” the district said via the news report.

The incident occurred as Kentucky implements House Bill 7, a new school bus safety law that expanded stopping requirements for motorists and allows school districts to install stop-arm video cameras to document violations.

State Rep. David Hale, the bill’s primary sponsor, said the measure is intended to help identify drivers who break school bus stopping laws and place students at risk. Crump urged motorists to remain alert around school buses and allow children enough time to safely enter or leave the roadway.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: Officers to Ride California School Buses During Illegal Passing Enforcement Operation
Related: STN EXPO East to Feature Illegal Passing Trends, Safety Recommendations
Related: Detroit Lions Retired Offensive Lineman Joins Latest Michigan Illegal Passing Awareness Campaign
Related: (STN Podcast E311) Leadership & Lawbreakers: Top STN EXPO West Picks, Illegal Passing Deep Dive

The post Kentucky Motorist Arrested After Illegal Passing School Bus, Hitting Child appeared first on School Transportation News.

The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) is calling on all motorists to obey traffic laws and exercise caution around school buses as students return to classrooms nationwide.

The warning follows the release of new data highlighting the ongoing problem of illegal passing of stopped school buses. According to results presented by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services at the 2026 NSTA Annual Meeting & Convention last month, 101,334 school bus drivers in 39 states and the District of Columbia (approximately 26 percent of the nation’s school bus drivers) voluntarily participated in a one-day count in the spring. They reported a total of 56,024 illegal passing motorists.

When projected nationally, the data suggests more than 213,800 illegal passings occur each school day, totaling over 38.4 million violations annually. This latest figure indicates a decrease from the 45.2 million violations estimated for the 2023–2024 school year. NASDPTS projected a total of 39.3 million violations for the 2024–2025 school year.

“School bus safety is a shared responsibility, and this data is a reminder that motorists play a critical role in protecting student,” said NSTA President Patrick Dean stated of the back-to-school reminder.

The school bus contractor association also continues its #KidsDeserveABrake social media campaign through September to raise awareness about the return of school buses to the roads. The association is advocating in Congress for H.R.2348 and S.2812, known as the Brake for Kids Act, which would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a nationwide public safety campaign about the dangers of illegal school bus passing.

“Every time a motorist illegally passes a stopped school bus, children’s safety is put at risk. As the school year begins, NSTA is calling on drivers, law enforcement and communities to treat these violations with the seriousness they deserve and to help ensure every student gets to and from school safely,” added NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn.

Related: Scientific Approach to Illegal Passing Issue Coming to STN EXPO West
Related: Detroit Lions Retired Offensive Lineman Joins Latest Michigan Illegal Passing Awareness Campaign
Related: NHTSA Kicks off Distracted Driving Awareness Month with Campaign
Related: Action Plan Puts National Spotlight on Hidden Toll of Illegal Passing

The post Motorists Urged to Obey School Bus Stop Laws appeared first on School Transportation News.

Police officers will ride on some school buses in a Middle Tennessee school district as part of a new effort to identify motorists who violate traffic laws near buses and put students at risk, reported WSMC News.

According to the news report, the Nolensville Police Department announced the initiative in collaboration with Williamson County Schools and the district’s transportation department. Officers will accompany students on selected bus routes and watch traffic around the vehicles during daily trips.

Police said the officers’ role will focus exclusively on unsafe driving outside the buses. They will not become involved in student behavior, school discipline, or other activities taking place aboard the vehicles.

“Our only purpose is to identify unsafe driving around school buses and help ensure that every student arrives at school and returns home safely,” Police Chief Dale Armour said via the news report.

Armour reminded drivers that they are required to stop when a school bus activates its flashing warning lights and extends its stop arm. Motorists must remain stopped while the signals are active. “A few moments of patience can prevent a tragedy,” Armour said.

The initiative is intended to give officers a direct view of motorists’ actions from inside school buses. By riding along with students, police will be positioned to observe traffic violations that occur as buses stop to pick up or unload children.

Police have reportedly not announced when the program will officially begin. The department also did not provide additional details about which routes will be selected, how frequently officers will ride, or how long it will continue.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: Quick-Acting New Jersey Police Free School Bus Stuck in Blizzard
Related: Tennessee Police Urge Caution as Students Return to School
Related: Officers to Ride California School Buses During Illegal Passing Enforcement Operation
Related: Wisconsin State Police, School Bus Association Promote School Bus Safety

The post Police Officers Watching for Illegal Passers to Ride Middle Tennessee School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

Back to school safety is forefront as an illegal passing PSA features a retired Detroit Lions offensive lineman; meanwhile, a South Carolina student was fatally shot at a school bus stop. Plus, send your best school bus photos to taylor@stnmedia.com.

Special education attorney Julie Weatherly discusses how recent federal changes to the U.S. Department of Education affect school transportation and students with special needs, as well as issuing a caution on using AI in education planning. She will deliver a keynote at the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (TSD) Conference and Trade Show this November.

Read more about special needs.

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LATHAM, N.Y. – With schools reopening statewide and as students head back to school, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) is urging motorists to use extra caution around school buses and stop when they see the flashing red lights.

According to reports from school bus operators from across the state, NYAPT says the problem of illegally passing a school bus remains a major safety concern across the state. School bus operators indicate that motorists frequently ignore flashing red lights and thereby endanger those students getting on an off the bus.

A recent survey conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) indicated that 213,800 illegal passings occur each school day in the United States, endangering the children riding school buses.

“Our top priority is ensuring New York students travel to and from school safely every day, and motorists play a crucial role in that,” said NYAPT President John Spacht. “As schools reopen, we ask motorists to stay vigilant around children and always stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing.”

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires all vehicles to come to a complete stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing. Flashing red lights indicate that a child is either boarding or disembarking the bus. New York State law prohibits passing a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing, regardless of your direction of travel, even on a multi-lane or divided highway.

Penalties for a first-time offense include a fine from $250 to $400, five points on your license and the possibility of 30-days in jail. A second conviction within three-years will result in a $600 to $750 fine and up
to 180-days in jail; while three or more convictions will result in a fine from $750 to $1,000, mandatory revocation of your driver’s license, and up to 180 days in jail.

Additionally, many school buses in New York State are equipped with stop arm camera systems that record illegal passing. If a motorist passes a school bus equipped with a stop arm camera system, the vehicle owner faces a $250-$300 penalty.

“Illegally passing a bus is completely unacceptable and entirely preventable,” said David Christopher, NYAPT Executive Director. “School buses are statistically the safest way for children to get to school—and motorists need to help us keep them safe by always stopping when they see those red lights flashing.”

NYAPT is also advising parents and caregivers that New York, like much of the nation, continues to face school bus driver shortages. According to a recent survey, 55% of NYAPT members, which include school districts and private school bus contractors, report an immediate need to hire additional school bus drivers.

To help address these driver shortages, the Association encourages anyone seeking a rewarding parttime opportunity to apply. School bus driving offers flexible hours, competitive hourly wages, health benefits, and schedules that align with school holidays and breaks. Interested applicants should contact their local school district or private school bus contractor to learn more.

About NYAPT
The New York Association for Pupil Transportation (nyapt.org) is a statewide organization dedicated to supporting and representing school transportation professionals responsible for the safe and efficient transportation of more than 2.3 million school children across New York State.

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Th PSA is designed to bring attention to the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses while reaching an audience beyond the school transportation industry.

Featuring retired Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown, the campaign uses football humor and a familiar face to make the message more engaging and memorable, before driving home the serious reminder: When a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, there is no passing. The ultimate goal is to reach more motorists, raise awareness and most importantly, help prevent dangerous situations and keep students safe.

In addition to the Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation, the PSA was sponsored by the National School Transportation Association, the National Association of Pupil Transportation and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services; First Light, IC Bus and Dean Transportation; and state organizations such as New York, Texas and Indiana.

The post Watch: Michigan Association Releases Lomas Brown PSA for Back to School appeared first on School Transportation News.

California Highway Patrol officers will ride Turlock Unified School District buses next month as part of an enforcement operation targeting motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses.

The operation will take place Sept. 4 at multiple locations along district bus routes in the Turlock area, which is located about halfway between Sacramento and Fresno, CHP said in a press release sent to School Transportation News.

Officers riding as passengers will watch for motorists who fail to stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. The officers will communicate with nearby CHP patrol units to stop motorists observed illegally passing a bus. Violators may receive warnings or traffic citations.

The operation is funded by a grant originating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

CHP said the operation is intended to educate motorists, parents and students about school bus pedestrian safety and reinforce state stopping requirements.

Drivers approaching a school bus from either direction must stop when its red lights are flashing, the agency reminded. Motorists must remain stopped while students enter or exit the bus and until children have safely crossed the street and the red lights stop flashing. Yellow flashing lights warn drivers to slow down and prepare to stop.

Motorists do not have to stop when a school bus is on the opposite side of a divided or multilane highway with at least two lanes in each direction, according to state law.

The agency also urged drivers to remain alert near school bus stops because children may act unpredictably or enter traffic without recognizing the danger. Motorists should reduce their speed and use additional caution around pedestrians, particularly in school zones before and after school.

Enforcement Also Targets Safe School Bus Ridership

CHP encouraged parents to make pedestrian and school bus safety part of their children’s routines. Students should arrive at their bus stop at least five minutes early and wait 10 feet from the road. Children who must cross a street to board should wait for the bus driver’s signal before proceeding.

Students also should not enter or leave a bus until the driver says it is safe, and they should never run after a bus they have missed. Running, games, pushing, and shoving should be avoided at bus stops.

When sidewalks are available, children should use them, CHP said. Where no sidewalk exists, students should walk single file, face approaching traffic and remain on the shoulder as far off the road as possible.

Children should look to the right before stepping off a bus because some motorists may attempt to pass on that side. Before crossing a street, students should stop and look left, right and left again. Crossings should be made at corners, crosswalks, or intersections whenever possible, where motorists are more likely to expect pedestrians.

“Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility,” CHP said in the release, adding that the agency is committed to helping keep the community safe and urging residents to follow traffic laws.

Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Related: Detroit Lions Retired Offensive Lineman Joins Latest Michigan Illegal Passing Awareness Campaign
Related: Scientific Approach to Illegal Passing Issue Coming to STN EXPO West
Related: Action Plan Puts National Spotlight on Hidden Toll of Illegal Passing

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We discuss the postponement of the New York state electric mandate, feedback on the annual NASDPTS illegal passing survey, the impact of Daylight Savings Time conversations on students, and accolades for former STN Transportation Director of the Year Teresa Fleming of the School District of Philadelphia at Zum’s Mobility Summit.

See how mentorship and teamwork star in the noteworthy career of Sandy Dillman, a longtime school transportation director and certified driver trainer who was named the 2026 Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence winner at STN EXPO West last month.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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Message from EverDriven. 

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DENVER, Colo. — Despite a decline in the number of illegal passers, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) said the problem is far from resolved.

In the most recent one-day count of illegal passers, announced Tuesday at the National School Transportation Association Annual Meeting and Convention, NASDPTS Executive Director Ronna Weber said 101,334 participating school bus drivers, accounting for 26.2 percent of the nation’s school bus drivers throughout 39 states and the District of Columbia, reported that 56,024 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day during the 2025-2026 school year.

Adjusting for 100 percent of the school bus drivers in the U.S., NASDPTS extrapolated just over 213,800 illegal passings each day. Projected across a 180-day school year, the agency noted that these sample results point to more than 38.4 million violations per year among the motoring public.

“As the projected violations for the 2024-2025 school year were 39.3 million, and the projected violations for the 2023-2024 school year were 45.2 million violations, we are noticing a trend in the reduction of the number of illegal passings,” NASDPTS said via a press release. “The problem of illegal passings, however, is far from resolved.”

NASDPTS President Mike Stier of the Illinois State Board of Education noted that while the state directors are pleased to see another reduction in the number of illegal passings, “38.4 million illegal passings is still entirely too many.”

He added that NASDPTS “continues to encourage each state to raise awareness on this important safety issue and to do everything possible to ensure motorists put the safety of school children first.”

Illegal Passing Survey Indicates Latest Violation Trends

When looking at the data, on average, the survey recorded about one violation for every two bus drivers participating in the voluntary survey. Afternoon routes accounted for the largest share of violations, with 28,596 illegal passes reported, representing 51 percent of the total. Morning routes accounted for 25,707 violations, or nearly 46 percent. Midday routes represented just over 3 percent with 1,721 incidents.

Most violations involved motorists approaching from the opposite direction. Plus, nearly 64 percent of illegal passes occurred from the front of the school bus, compared with about 36 percent from the rear.

Florida reported the highest overall number of violations, followed by California, Georgia and Texas. Together, those four states accounted for roughly 60 percent of all reported incidents. However, state-by-state comparisons should be viewed cautiously because participation levels varied and the survey did not account for route mileage, traffic volume, number of stops or roadway type.

The 11th annual survey began in 2014 and since has only missed 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 and the resulting school closures across the country.

“In recent years, several states have increased penalties for violations, authorized the use of photo evidence for issuing citations, or enacted other measures designed to deter this dangerous practice,” NASDPTS said.

Related: WATCH: West Virginia Releases Illegal Passing Awareness Video
Related: Scientific Approach to Illegal Passing Issue Coming to STN EXPO West
Related: WATCH: Michigan Association Releases Illegal Passing PSA for School Bus Safety Week
Related: Detroit Lions Retired Offensive Lineman Joins Latest Michigan Illegal Passing Awareness Campaign

At STN EXPO West last week, Michael Hout, Ph.D., the associate dean for research at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, delivered a comprehensive scientific perspective on the persistent problem of illegal school bus stop arm passing. Collaborating with Ward Leber and the Child Safety Network, Hout drew on his expertise in psychology and kinesiology, focusing on visual attention, perception, memory, decision making, and the phenomenon of “look but fail to see errors.”

During his session he emphasized the limitations of violation counts, advocating for more comprehensive data that include legal stops, routes, communities, time of day, and baseline denominators. He referenced the NASDPTS one-day survey, noting that while it’s a start, it’s not a full representation of the problem. Because drivers are counting these instances themselves, he added, there is a margin of error.

He recommended supplementing human observation with video cameras and other assistive tools. Behaviors such as reaction times, fixations, braking, steering, and eye movement control are where recording errors can occur, he noted.

The post Illegal School Bus Passing Numbers Indicate Decrease, ‘Still Too Many’ appeared first on School Transportation News.