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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The post (STN Podcast E320) Unpacking Updates: Legal Eagle Illuminates U.S. Department of Education Shifts appeared first on School Transportation News.

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.

The post New York Association for Pupil Transportation Urges Motorists to be Extra Careful as Schools Reopen appeared first on School Transportation News.

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

The post Officers to Ride California School Buses During Illegal Passing Enforcement Operation appeared first on School Transportation News.

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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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.

RENO, Nev. – As a leader in school bus safety technology, BusPatrol CEO Karoon Monfared showcased the company’s stop arm enforcement program and track record of protecting over 2 million children on 40,000 buses across 27 states.

Monfared’s presentation, part of the Bus Technology Summit series at STN EXPO West, blended personal anecdotes – such as a heartfelt birthday wish for his son Liam – with an engaging “10-star experience” experiment involving an audience member and her favorite restaurant, Black and Blue, to illustrate BusPatrol’s ethos of understanding, attention to detail, and caring.

BusPatrol’s community-first approach is shaped by listening to partners like Keba Baldwin, director of transportation at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland and STN’s 2025 Transportation Director of the Year, as well as early collaborators in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York. The company trains its field service technicians on every school bus make and model, and leverages data to identify illegal passing hotspots for safer route planning. Monfared emphasized the importance of continually asking partners questions about protecting every child and using data-driven insights, ensuring technology is purpose-built for school buses rather than adapted from other industries.

“The technology around us is evolving at unbelievable speed, but it hasn’t been built from the ground up,” he said. “Our video management solutions on the inside of the school bus have been built from the ground up with student transportation in mind.”

The session addressed the daily challenges student transportation teams face, including integrating technology into workflows, urgency in bus yards, and the manual, detective-like process of retrieving video footage. This involves finding buses, removing hard drives, cropping, clipping, and delivering footage, all of which can take hours or days and delay incident response. BusPatrol’s new Beyond Enforcement+ offering launching this fall, offers a modern incident management platform with privacy built into every step, secure sharing with school staff, and a connected, streamlined workflow. Since BusPatrol’s end-to-end technology ownership enables seamless integration with other systems and rapid improvements, it avoids patchwork solutions from multiple companies.

“We’ve reimagined every step of the entire process, from detection to delivery, so you can get your typical video in about three minutes,” Monfared explained. “That means faster decisions, faster communication and a faster safety response.”

He also highlighted the violator-funded enforcement model and the “BusPatrol difference” – a commitment to affordable innovation and purpose-built solutions for the industry’s “precious cargo” of children.

The audience of student transporters, often the first to arrive at work and last to leave, was recognized for their dedication, with millions of parents trusting them daily. Monfared confirmed that BusPatrol takes the privilege of partnership seriously, working “shoulder to shoulder” with student transporters to prevent illegal passing incidents and deliver fast, effective solutions for the next era of student safety.

Written with assistance of AI from a session transcript.

Related: Detroit Lions Retired Offensive Lineman Joins Latest Michigan Illegal Passing Awareness Campaign
Related: Illegal School Bus Passing on Decline in Pennsylvania City, Says Report
Related: (STN Podcast E311) Leadership & Lawbreakers: Top STN EXPO West Picks, Illegal Passing Deep Dive
Related: Florida Officials Stress School Bus Stop Safety After Illegal Passer Hits Student

The post Tech Talk with BusPatrol: The Next Era of Student Safety appeared first on School Transportation News.

In less than a year, the Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation will release its second illegal passing awareness campaign, this time catered to the NFL audience.

Katrina Morris, executive director of MAPT, said the association recently filmed its latest public service announcement with former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Lomas Brown. The PSA is expected to be released in early August, timed with the start of the back-to-school season.

The video follows MAPT’s 2025 illegal passing campaign featuring NASCAR driver Ryan Preece, which was filmed in partnership with ROUSH CleanTech. Morris said the goal of these PSAs is to reach more audiences than those in school transportation.

“The last one, it [had]125,000 views,” Morris said of the Preece PSA. “So, you know that’s not transportation people. The NFL has a huge voice, too, and so we’re hoping to get more than that.”

Related: WATCH: Michigan Association Releases Illegal Passing PSA for School Bus Safety Week
Related: Michigan Association Films Illegal School Bus Passing PSA with NASCAR’s Preece

The new campaign came together after Morris said she mentioned wanting to connect with someone in the Detroit Lions organization. An MAPT board member helped make the connection through his father-in-law, who is retired from the NFL and the Detroit Lions.

The PSA was filmed over two days, with scenes shot in Ludington and Detroit. Brown also visited students in Ludington through an educational program that helps students regulate, cope and reintegrate into their general education districts. Morris said the students had learned about Brown before his visit and were excited to meet him.

“He was phenomenal with their kids,” Morris said. “Signed autographs on shirts … and took pictures with the kids, so it was really neat and amazing.”

PSA Blends Football Humor with Seriousness of Illegal Passing Issue

The PSA uses humor and football references, as well as a nod to the NFC North Division. For instance, in one scene, a child asks for a green and yellow mohawk, a nod to the Green Bay Packers. In another, a man asks for a bear tattoo, ala the Chicago Bears. In another, a couple appears to be rushing into marriage while wearing Minnesota Vikings purple and gold.

Brown responds to each scenario with, “I wouldn’t rush into that.”

The lighthearted banter turns serious at the school bus stop. “But here’s where it really matters: No rushing when the red lights are flashing, there’s no passing,” Brown says in the PSA.

Morris added that a combination of humor and urgency is intentional. Like the video with Preece, she noted that the goal is to create a message that people will want to watch, while also reinforcing the most important safety rules for motorists, to stop for school buses when their reg lights are flashing and stop arm is extended.

Morris said Brown understood the importance of the campaign after seeing a recent news story about a close call involving a student.

“He and his wife were watching TV a couple days before we film, and one of our school districts had a really close call where this car just came flying past and this kid was going to cross the road,” Morris said. “He said it really resonated and obviously made it a little bit more important to get this done.”

Related: Florida Officials Stress School Bus Stop Safety After Illegal Passer Hits Student
Related: ‘If You Pass’ Campaign Drives Awareness, Engagement on School Bus Safety
Related: (STN Podcast E305) It’s Your Job: Industry Legend Dick Fischer Talks School Bus Safety, Training

Illegal Passing PSA Builds on Racing-themed Video

MAPT’s first illegal passing PSA with Preece was released during National School Bus Safety Week in October 2025 and can only be run through the end of this calendar year. The new PSA with Brown, however, does not have the same restrictions.

Morris said sponsors again helped make the latest PSA possible, including several that also supported the racing campaign. The current 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, as well as state organizations such as New York, Texas, and Indiana. First Light, IC Bus and Dean Transportation also sponsored the PSA.

She said some sponsors also committed funding specifically for airtime, which could help expand the campaign’s reach beyond social media.

The campaign’s momentum may not stop here. Morris said MAPT is already looking toward the music industry as the next avenue for reaching a broader audience.

“There’s obviously a need for this, and there’s a want for it, which is good,” Morris said. “And hopefully there won’t be a need or a want for it after a while. But right now, we have to do something for the kids.”

The post Detroit Lions Retired Offensive Lineman Joins Latest Michigan Illegal Passing Awareness Campaign appeared first on School Transportation News.

Pittsburgh Public Schools reported an 8-percent, year-over-year decline in drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, according to the district’s 2025-2026 school bus safety report card released this week, reported ABC 4

According to the article, the report attributes the improvement to an ongoing partnership with BusPatrol, which began in 2023 and equipped the district’s fleet with AI-powered stop-arm enforcement technology designed to identify motorists who illegally pass school buses while students are boarding or exiting.

School officials reportedly said the program is intended to improve student safety by changing driver behavior rather than simply issuing citations. “The purpose of the bus patrol program is not to issue citations; the purpose is to change behavior,” said Michael McNamara, chief operations officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools via the article. “Every violation captured represents a moment where a child could be at risk.”

Between August 2025 and June, the district’s 243 school buses reportedly recorded 10,328 stop-arm violations, averaging 0.39 violations per bus each day. Officials said repeat offenders accounted for just 5.9 percent of the violations.

Officer Toi Kenny of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Police Department said motorists who ignore stopped school buses put children in immediate danger. “When a driver passes a stopped school bus, they are putting children at risk in matters of seconds,” Kenny told local news reporters. “Students may be crossing the street, stepping off the bus, or moving into a driver’s blind spot, and it only takes one poor decision for a life-changing tragedy.”

The report also identified patterns in the violations. Forty-two percent of illegal passings reportedly occurred on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while 43 percent took place during morning bus routes and 57 percent during afternoon routes.

Rick Birt, vice president of government operations and safety at BusPatrol, said via the article that education and enforcement remain key to reducing violations. “They make the selfish choice to put our kids at risk, and our children deserve better,” Birt said. “At BusPatrol, we have one mission, to empower communities through a combination of education and enforcement.”

Pennsylvania drivers cited through the school bus safety camera program face a minimum $300 fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus.

Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Related: Are Extended Stop Arms Part of Solution to Illegal School Bus Passing?
Related: (STN Podcast E311) Leadership & Lawbreakers: Top STN EXPO West Picks, Illegal Passing Deep Dive
Related: STN EXPO East to Feature Illegal Passing Trends, Safety Recommendations

The post Illegal School Bus Passing on Decline in Pennsylvania City, Says Report appeared first on School Transportation News.

The illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be a serious safety threat as student transporters get students to and from school. An upcoming session at STN EXPO West features an expert-led interactive discussion on the scientific data behind why this safety issue is so widespread.

Dr. Michael Hout will be appearing in Reno, Nevada for his educational session “A Scientific Approach to Studying Illegal Stop Arm Passing” on July 12. As a professor of psychology kinesiology at New Mexico State University, Hout plans to bring a unique perspective to the conference with an illegal passing discussion on the tools of visual cognition and attention science as well as human visual processing.

During the session Hout will seek to answer the question, “How do we actually know what we think we know about illegal passing?” by drawing on his extensive research the same perception failures studied in airport security screening and radiology, known as “look-but-fail-to-see” errors, to explain why a motorist looks directly at a stopped bus but doesn’t register it. Hout will use the science of attention and perception as well as explaining the “serial stop arm runners” mindset, breaking down different types of distractions or misinformation that contribute to continued infractions.

Listen: Dr. Michael Hout discusses scientific approaches to the illegal passing problem on School Transportation Nation podcast.

Hout will also discuss current industry-used counting methods of illegal passing incidents, the requirements for future investigations, and reveal the nuances that shows that measuring the scope of this pressing safety issue is a bigger project than most people realize. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and contribute to this safety discussion with their own professional insights.

Hout’s experience includes serving as a program director at the National Science Foundation, where he co-leads the Perception, Action, and Cognition program, and the Cognitive Neuroscience program. He is also and editor-in-chief of the journal Attention, Perception & Psychophysics.

He also has focused research on eye-movement behavior, visual search, memory and student success. His work in research includes directing the Vision Sciences and Memory Laboratory and the Addison Care Virtual and Augmented Reality Laboratory, which he also co-founded.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Attendees will have access to a week of educational sessions based on the challenges facing the industry, training classes to improve operations, networking events to bring peers together for problem-solving and innovative experiences such as the Ride and Drive/Live Product Demo, the STN EXPO Trade Show and the Transportation Director Summit. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Professional Development Training for Rising Student Transportation Leaders at STN EXPO West
Related: Safety Impact of School Bus Seatbelts Topic at STN EXPO West
Related: WATCH: Active-threat Response Training Subject of Opening STN EXPO West Session

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Stop-arm violations remain a persistent problem across the U.S. despite years of public awareness campaigns and media coverage. According to a recent survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), more than 39.3 million stop-arm violations occurred during the 2024-2025 school year. This figure reflects improvement over the previous year, but it still means millions of motorists ignored stopped school buses.

While every state has laws against passing stopped school buses, 30 states authorize the use of exterior school bus cameras to capture violations. One of those states is Colorado.

After a few near misses, South Routt School District RE-3 in northern Colorado enhanced its existing bus surveillance systems with REI’s AI Stop-Arm Violation Cameras. The IP camera uses vision-based AI to detect violations while the stop arm is extended, day or night. When a violation occurs, it automatically flags the DVR’s timeline and prompts ARMOR Software Suite to auto-download the violation video for review.

What benefits has the Colorado district experienced since installing the cameras? How have they affected stop-arm violations? Read on to discover how the camera’s technology is helping the district improve safety and streamline operations.

Violation Detection

Delbert Bostock, the district’s transportation director, notes the stop-arm camera’s impact on violation count, “Before we put the cameras on our buses, we were getting run all the time. We’ve really slowed down. It was on average between six and eight [violations] a month. Now, I went four weeks without one.”

He points out that community awareness has also played a part in reducing violations, “We’re a small community. And with the publicity, if you get pulled over and get a ticket for running a stop arm, you’re going to tell your neighbors about it.”

Driver Interaction

Drivers have enough to focus on to keep students safe. The AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera minimizes their role in detecting illegal passings.

“It makes [violation detection] easier while the bus driver is concentrating on a student getting on or off the bus,” Bostock adds.

Bus drivers no longer need to constantly watch for violators or press a panic button to flag recordings, reducing their workload and stress. The camera automates these tasks, allowing drivers to devote their attention to student activities inside and outside the bus. Fewer distractions behind the wheel are a significant safety benefit.

Increased Efficiency

Stop-arm camera systems allow operations to capture illegal passings, but finding violation footage often requires lengthy searches through DVR recordings. For officials already balancing staffing, maintenance and other operational tasks, the research can be trying.

The AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera enables transportation teams to quickly find and review violation footage within the integrated ARMOR Software Suite. ARMOR also allows users to generate evidence packages for law enforcement, saving time and reducing manual work. Here’s how the system works:

1. As a violation is detected, the camera automatically flags the DVR’s timeline.
2. The camera also triggers the license plate cameras to capture the violator’s plates.
3. ARMOR is also prompted to 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 easy to find for quick review.
5. Once a violation is confirmed, the user can instruct ARMOR to generate an evidence package with plate images and relevant data and/or a link to the video clip.
6. Administration can email the password-protected package or link to law enforcement.

According to Bostock, “It just makes finding the plate and the infraction itself simpler and makes my job more efficient and easier. I look at the footage, make a copy and then send it to law enforcement. Within about 20 minutes, I can have it in the sheriff department’s hands, in their email file.”

He goes on to describe how the cameras’ capabilities have changed his workdays, “I have more time to interact with my staff and look at other video footage that we have. And it enables me to do my job better because I’m a one-man show here. I’m the director, a driver and, if needed, the mechanic. It enables me to work on the bus when I need to work on the bus and just frees up time throughout the day, so I’m getting other things accomplished.”

Enforcement Support

High-definition video evidence can strengthen partnerships between school districts and law enforcement. When violations are recorded clearly, officers review the footage and pursue enforcement actions with greater confidence.

Bostock sees that firsthand, “[Law enforcement] likes how the camera focuses down on the stop arm. They love that view better than the other views we’ve been using. I send them the footage, and it’s pretty cut and dry. We don’t tolerate [violations] and write tickets for all of it. If it’s on video, it goes to court and it works out great.”

Next Steps

Stop-arm violations continue to endanger students nationwide, making reliable detection and enforcement essential. REI’s AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera, paired with ARMOR Software Suite, helps document violations, support investigations and keep drivers focused on student safety. By automating key processes, the system helps districts like South Routt RE-3 operate more efficiently and safely.

Seeking stronger violation enforcement and greater efficiency? AI-powered stop-arm technology offers a crucial next step. Call 800.228.9275, contact us or your REI sales representative for more information about the AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera.

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Tony and Taylor are back with their recommendations on sessions you must attend at STN EXPO West in July. It’s a packed conference and trade show including an in-demand mentorship program, CEO Tech Talks, military-inspired leadership and the Best of the Dick & Pete Show.

Dr. Michael Hout, professor of psychology and kinesiology at New Mexico State University, joins Ryan to discuss research into illegal school bus passing, effective ways to count incidents, the brains of offenders, the role of technology and AI, and his upcoming STN EXPO West session on the topic.

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The post (STN Podcast E311) Leadership & Lawbreakers: Top STN EXPO West Picks, Illegal Passing Deep Dive appeared first on School Transportation News.

Summer break is upon us but student transporters are already ramping up for the new school year amid financial challenges. Plus, the June issue of School Transportation News magazine is out, and a camera caught a scary illegal passing incident that injured a student in Florida.

Ryan Hahn, owner of Strategic School Consultants and a former transportation director, sheds light on current school district financial hardships, creative and collaborative operational strategies, and his upcoming sessions on the topic at STN EXPO West this July.

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As school districts enter summer vacation, being cautious around school buses remains a priority. A Florida family joined the local school district and Sheriff in speaking out after a 14-year-old girl was struck by a car while attempting to board a school bus in Lee County.

The sheriff’s office and school district held a bus stop safety news conference May 21 following the incident in Estero, Florida, involving eighth-grader Abigail Westveer and several similar incidents across the county. More than 25,000 drivers were caught illegally passing Lee County school buses over a five-month span, alarming law enforcement officials and school leaders. During the conference, Superintendent Denise Carlin said the district partnered with BusPatrol and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office last year to install stop-arm cameras on school buses.

“We installed cameras on our bus fleet to capture video of drivers who fail to stop when a bus is stopping to pick up or drop off our children,” Carlin said.

Westveer was hit the morning of March 31, when a motorist illegally passed a stopped school bus on the right side where the teenager was walked toward the loading doors, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Video of the incident shows the girl approaching the bus when the sedan comes from behind the bus and passes on the right side at a high rate of speed.

The BusPatrol footage shows the motorist attempting to brake and steering to the right onto a grassy area to try avoid hitting Westveer. Instead, the motorist side-swiped Westveer, striking the girl in the back with the left side of the vehicle. The teen braces herself moments before impact and is thrown to the ground, sliding several feet.

Seconds later, the video shows the driver, whose identity was not immediately released by authorities, exit the vehicle and run toward the teen as another bystander approaches to help.

“That video sickens me,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said during the press conference. “When those lights are red and that bus stops, stop your vehicle. It’s that simple,” he continued.

Marceno said the enforcement initiative is focused on changing dangerous driving habits around school buses. “There’s one goal here and one mission: Changing driver behavior. It’s about educating the public and saving lives,” he said. Ninety-plus percent of the violators don’t repeat offend. That means the program works.

“Our goal is not to give everybody a ticket. Our goal is to write no tickets because people comply.”

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Westveer “was nearly seriously injured” in the crash, calling the incident “a frightening reminder of how quickly lives can change in just seconds.”

Student Escapes Serious Injury Following Illegal Passing Strike

The incident came only seven weeks after the girl’s father died. The family said they are still mourning his loss while trying to recover from the latest traumatic event.

“I damn near lost my granddaughter because of someone that wasn’t paying attention,” Westveer’s grandfather Brian Masters said during the news conference. “This has got to stop before someone does get killed.”

Lori Masters, the girl’s grandmother, added that despite being hit Westveer was at school the following day. She noted that a responding deputy said the outcome could have been much worse if the girl turned to face the oncoming vehicle instead of bracing for impact.

Authorities confirmed that the motorist received a citation in connection with the incident. Additional details about the citation were not immediately released, but Marceno said their could be further a investigation of the motorist.

In the weeks following the incident, local officials have used Westveer’s story to raise awareness about school bus safety and the dangers of illegally passing stopped buses. “Every violation represents a child who could have been seriously killed or injured,” Marceno said.

BusPatrol President and CIO Justin Myers said the program is designed to reduce dangerous driving behavior around school buses through enforcement and education. “Every single violation that the sheriff’s office issues is an opportunity to permanently change that driver’s behavior,” Myers said.

Under Florida law, motorists traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus displays its stop sign and flashing red lights unless the road is divided by a physical barrier. Drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus can face multiple penalties depending on the severity of the violation and whether children were endangered or injured. Violating the law is considered a moving violation under Florida Statute 316.172.

Myers said the company has seen illegal passing violations decline significantly in communities using stop-arm camera enforcement technology. “We’ve seen degradation of this behavior in communities by as much as 30, 40, or even 50% in the first couple of years,” he said.

Officials said many drivers either ignore the law or fail to pay attention around school zones and bus stops, creating dangerous situations for students entering or exiting buses. “It is entirely unacceptable, entirely preventable,” Myers said.

“Nothing is more important than making sure every child gets home safely,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement released during the news conference. “Together, we are making Lee County safer, one child, one bus stop, and one school zone at a time.”

Related: (STN Podcast E297) Deep Dive into Safety: Illegal Passing & Child Restraints, Plus Green Bus Funding
Related: Action Plan Puts National Spotlight on Hidden Toll of Illegal Passing
Related: STN EXPO East to Feature Illegal Passing Trends, Safety Recommendations
Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology

The post Florida Officials Stress School Bus Stop Safety After Illegal Passer Hits Student appeared first on School Transportation News.

More U.S. Environmental Protection Agency news and webinars on funding, plus how clean energy demand intersects with AI’s need for resources. Conversations continue at ACT EXPO this week and the Green Bus Summit at STN EXPO West in July.

“The tragedy will never leave you.” Shocking real-life stories abound in this special extended episode as 91-year-old industry legend and consultant Richard “Dick” Fischer underscores the need for thorough safety leadership and training. He discusses student transportation history, school bus crashes in the news, drunk and criminal drivers, illegal passing and the Danger Zone. See him live at STN EXPO West and email him to sign up for his free safety newsletter.

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The post (STN Podcast E305) It’s Your Job: Industry Legend Dick Fischer Talks School Bus Safety, Training appeared first on School Transportation News.