LISLE, Ill. – International Motors, LLC (International) and IC Bus, LLC (IC Bus) are proud to announce that First Light Illuminated School Bus Signs (ISBS) and Fully Illuminated Stop Arms (FISA) are now standard on the Next Generational IC Bus Electric CE Series School Buses.

Effective immediately, the ISBS and FISA options are available for factory install on all IC Bus school bus models currently on order and will be standard on all new Electric CE Series school bus orders moving forward. That standard position will expand to internal combustion engine CE Series unit orders in August 2025.

These First Light products provide uncompromised visibility, assisting IC Bus in its efforts to offer innovative features that lead to safer bus stops. Adding these First Light products to the existing standard safety systems and technologies provides another valuable tool for customers who own and operate IC Bus vehicles throughout North America.

“Safely transporting the children of our communities is a responsibility that IC Bus takes incredibly seriously. When IC Bus introduced the Next Generation of the CE Series in July 2023, it was clear that safety was our number one priority,” said Charles Chilton, Vice President and General Manager of IC Bus. “The improved driver visibility and dash-integrated safety systems were just a step in the journey. Making these First Light products standard equipment was a natural progression, considering their visibility impacts.”

First Light’s ISBS and FISA products have proven to greatly reduce stop arm violations by enhancing motorists’ recognition and reaction times as they approach a stopped school bus. Both the ISBS and FISA are visible beyond 1,000 feet and readable beyond 300 feet, giving oncoming motorists additional visibility and time to stop appropriately.

About International:
Based in Lisle, Illinois, International Motors, LLC* creates solutions that deliver greater uptime and productivity to our customers throughout the full operation of our commercial vehicles. We build International trucks and engines and IC Bus school and commercial buses that are as tough and as smart as the people who drive them. We also develop Fleetrite aftermarket parts. In everything we do, our vision is to accelerate the impact of sustainable mobility to create the cleaner, safer world we all deserve. As of 2021, we joined Scania, MAN and Volkswagen Truck & Bus in TRATON GROUP, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry. To learn more, visit www.International.com.

*International Motors, LLC is d/b/a International Motors USA LLC in Illinois, Ohio, and Utah.

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Three students died from injuries caused by motorists who illegally passed a school bus during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey conducted by the Kansas State Department of Education. Meanwhile, the annual National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) illegal passing survey estimated over 43.5 million illegal school bus passes occurred during the 2022-2023 school year.

These findings highlight the constant safety issue of drivers who do not honor the school bus stop arm thus putting the lives of students at risk.

“This is not just a traffic violation. It is a matter of life and death,” said Lori Jetha, vice president of marketing for Safe Fleet, a manufacturer of stop arms, cameras and illegal passing warning systems.

Federal government steps to address this issue include analysis of state laws regarding illegal passing and various legislation on the use of stop-arm cameras to prosecute violators. Student transporters are reconsidering routes that require students to cross the street to board or exit their bus and emphasizing training of school bus drivers as well as students on proper loading and unloading.

It is also vitally important to equip districts with the technology and training they need to be proactive about this incredibly important safety issue. “Everyone on the road is responsible for the safety of others, yet there is a rise of illegal school bus passings across North America that put school aged children’s lives at risk every day,” said Brett Kuchiak, the specifications and compliance manager for First Light Safety Products, which manufacturers school bus illumination systems.

He continued that it is crucial to “implement changes on our end that can positively change a driver’s behavior.” Jetha shared how Osceola County School District in Florida is utilizing Safe Fleet’s Stop Arm Violation Enforcement System (SAVES) system that was launched last June. It provides a three-step approach, the first being illuminated stop arms and LED driver alerts to improve visibility. Step two uses radar, predictive analytics and AI-enhanced software to provide an audible warning to students if a motorist will illegally pass the bus. Finally, the SAVES system also “automatically captures and processes stop-arm violations to aid in issuing citations and deter future incidents.”

Randy Wheeler, the assistant transportation director at Osceola, added that the system helps modify motorist behavior, with the goal of improving student safety. “With the SAVES system installed on just three buses since December, we’ve detected over 500 violations. That’s terrifying to us as school bus operators,” he said.

Joshua Hinerman, the director of transportation for Robertson County Schools in Tennessee, confirmed the high numbers of illegal passing incidents. He noted his district has recorded 767 stop-arm violations in the 2023-2024 school year. He continued that the district has had 880 reported stop-arm violations in just the first semester of the current school year, which he attributes to driver training that allows them to electronically report illegal passing incidents using onboard bus tablets. He explained that these tablets allow drivers to record their bus number, location and time of the incident with a press of a button which allows for data collection that can be provided to law enforcement when looking for areas of repeated illegal passing violations.

Technology plays a significant role in aiding student safety and providing a quick way to track and report illegal passing. John Legus, director of transportation at Berrien Springs Public Schools in Michigan, discussed the benefits of stop-arm cameras. “The drivers main focus should always be on the location of the kids while making a school bus stop,” he said. “Our stop-arm cameras allow us to go back and get the license plate and other pertinent information when the bus returns to the lot.”

Arby Creach, the recently retired director of transportation director at Osceola County, recalled video footage that showed a student jumping back as a vehicle sped past the stop arm at 65 mph in a 25 mph zone.

“Even now, thinking about it sends chills down my spine. It’s a serious undertaking, protecting these kids, and we need to consider every viable option to help ensure their safety,” Creach said.

Although a stop arm is already an indicator that motorists must stop, many districts have found success implementing lighted stop arms equipped with flashing lights. “Anything that will snap the drivers out of their distractions and draw attention to the stopped school bus is worth looking at and implementing where appropriate,” said Don Paul, transportation supervisor for Washington Township Schools in New Jersey. “In areas where we have implemented the First Light Stop Arms, we have seen a drastic reduction in illegal passing.”

Legus noted that the illuminated signage at his district, also provided by First Light, “clearly indicate that a motorist is approaching a school bus and not a dump truck.” He added that the buses are also equipped with an LED light system that activates when the exterior door is opened on the passenger and drivers’ side of the bus, as well as overhead strobing lights, both of which draw attention to students exiting or entering the bus.

David Bowman, transportation director at Lakeland School Corporation in Indiana, explained how different technology offerings can work together to further student safety. “Our stop-arm cameras are excellent in capturing people who pass our stopped bus. However, they are reactive,” said Bowman. “First Light’s Illuminated School Bus Signs and LED warning lights are all proactive in helping motorists realize it’s a school bus and to stop”.

Kuchiak discussed First Light’s published Stop Arm Efficacy Pilot Study and how “building on top of that model to collect additional data points from more sources, we are able to prove the positive effects improving conspicuity has on decreasing illegal passing of the school bus.”

He shared that the median decrease of illegal passings because of enhanced school bus illumination is 64 percent, with an almost 90 percent decrease in infractions during low-light hours. “It is clear that increasing the visibility of the school bus, and the action required by the motorists on the road [to stop] that we have found part of the solution needed to get to our goal of zero violations, zero accidents and zero fatalities,” he added.

Alfredo Escalera, fleet supervisor at Seminole County Public Schools in Florida, another user of the Safe Fleet illegal passing technology, said people are going to see these added safety features and question why the technology wasn’t available years ago.

“It’s going to be a no-brainer at that point,” he said. “The systems would be life savers. It only makes sense to have these safety features on-board.”

Training also plays a large role. At Berrien’s transportation operations, Legus said that training is continuous and includes monthly reviews to discuss transportation related events and a weekly newsletter that drivers can use in everyday work with the students. Paul said his district also provides training material to the drivers and that students (up to fifth grade) are given annual training in Danger Zone and school bus safety.

Tennessee’s Hinerman shared specific driver training protocols from his operations. “When the driver makes the stop, they are taught to look and make sure all vehicles have come to a stop before making eye contact with the student and motioning the student to cross, during that time the driver should be constantly keeping their eye moving and looking for danger/ hazards.”

He also noted that drivers are trained to use a designated hand signal to indicate to students that it is safe to cross, i.e. a thumbs up. “Do not use waving their hand for the signal,” he advised, “as car drivers might [think drivers] mean they are waving their vehicle pass.”

Staying in a vigilant state of mind when on the road is crucial for drivers and students, he explained. “For drivers it reminds us to be constantly looking before coming to a stop and never assume that the other vehicle is going to stop. For students this could mean serious injury and/or death and students must always be aware of their bus stop and making sure they look both ways and make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing.

Robertson County Schools has experienced multiple instances of a student being hit by a passing motorist in the past few years, with each case resulting in minor injuries to the student, said Hinerman.

“There is no explanation for the utter feeling of horror when you hear a [school bus] driver come over the radio stating a student has been struck by a car,” he noted. “We respond calmly and quickly to the situation. While at the scene we do our best to be a comfort to the parents who have often times witnessed such a tragic event.

Awareness from school districts, news coverage of illegal passing incidents, and community outreach are all tools to bring attention to this safety concern. Paul noted that community education on Danger Zone safety is done through the New Jersey State Police and local law enforcement. He noted online resources such as schoolbusfacts.com, which he said districts should utilize.

Legus pointed to an episode of his district’s podcast series, “ShamrockED,” which is hosted by Berrien Springs Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Bruce. Bruce spoke with Legus as well as one of the districts’ school bus drivers about safety issues specific to student transportation. Educational outreach opportunities such as this are examples of how districts can highlight school bus safety concerns, giving a voice to student transportation professionals and broadcast it to the wider community.

Legus also said four signs that read, “All lanes must stop for school bus with flashing red lights” have been placed at strategic areas. Reported illegal passing incidents for his fleet of 26 buses reduced from 170 in the 2022-2023 school year to 146 in 2023-2024, with 30 currently reported for the 2024-2025 year. Two of the signs were posted in 2023 and the other two in 2024.

Even when illegal passing incidents don’t result in death or injury, it doesn’t mean it that they don’t have consequences. “The potential for fatal consequences is off the charts,” Paul said. Legus shared how illegal passing can have long-term psychological and
emotional effects. “Stop-arm violations are both emotional and traumatic to our transportation staff and students,” he said. “Drivers put a lot of care and compassion into their profession. Our drivers tend to view the kids as their own and protect them as such.”

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the February 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: Ohio Bill Seeks School Bus Illegal Passing Fine Increase, Safety Fund
Related: Florida Students Hit, Two Killed During School Bus Stop Walks
Related: (STN Podcast E244) In the People Business: Underscoring & Improving School Bus Safety

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As the former VP of risk management for Laidlaw for over 21 years, I was responsible for
the safety of operating 38,000 school buses. To this day, I clearly recall one specific tragic accident that resulted in a 6-year-old boy being killed by the bus he rode. Upon exiting, he walked in front of the bus, where the driver did not see him, and was struck by the front of the bus and killed by the rear wheels. There was no crossing arm on the bus.

Two years later, I was subpoenaed to a deposition by the plaintiff’s lawyer. I was asked if the bus had a crossing arm and if this tragedy could have been prevented. Obviously, the answer was yes, it may have been prevented. In fact, I believe there was more than a 90 percent chance it would have been prevented. Due to this tragedy, Laidlaw retrofitted all 38,000 school buses with crossing arms. This led to no further front of the bus danger zone student fatalities.

Let us consider the overall U.S. danger zone fatalities over the past 20 years. In the last decade, there were 51 student fatalities. In the previous decade there were 111
student fatalities, a 54 percent reduction. So, how did we achieve this? I believe that the fitting of crossing arms was one of the primary reasons for saving these young
lives, and the numbers prove this statement. In more specific terms, there were nine front of the bus fatalities in the last decade. In the prior decade there were 28 front-of-the-bus student fatalities. That is a significant reduction, 68 percent in fact. More importantly, 19 children’s lives were saved.

Crossing arms are mandatory on all school buses in Canada. However, only 25 states require crossing arms. In the remaining 25 states, crossing arms are optional. It is estimated that 60 percent of all the school buses in the U.S. have crossing arms.

On Sept. 13, 2022, a 6-year-old girl in Fort Worth, Texas was killed at the front of her bus no crossing arm. Crossing arms were fitted to all that district’s buses after this collision.

On Feb.16, 2024, in New York, a 5-year-old girl was killed at the front of her bus, and again no crossing arm. If these buses had crossing arms, it is likely that these children would still be alive. Do crossing arms work in reducing danger zone fatalities? Absolutely, as proven by the data.

What Costs are Involved?
A crossing arm retails around $400. If purchased in volume, this cost can be reduced. Many districts install them on all new school buses and the cost is spread over the life of the vehicle. For example, a Type C propane school bus without a crossing arm costs $140,000. The additional crossing arm would increase the cost to $140,400. Clearly this is a no brainer.

Installation takes between two and three hours depending upon the make and model of the bus. However, if required on new school buses, the manufacturer would install the crossing arms.

Ideally, all school buses used to transport students should have a crossing arm. At the least, they should be required on all new school buses, then, look to retrofit them on existing buses starting with the newer buses in your fleet.

What States Do Not Require Crossing Arms?
The last study of crossing arm requirements was performed by the National Association for Pupil Transportation in January 2019. At that time, crossing arms were not required in the following 25 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont.

California has its own practice, where the driver exits the school bus and helps students cross the street, using a stop sign. This makes California an exception to needing crossing arms.

However, it does not matter if your state requires crossing arms. For the safety of the students, it is the right thing to do. Had I been doing my job better in 2004 and fitted crossing arms sooner, it is likely the 6-year-old would still be alive. I accept this responsibility, and it continues to weigh upon me.

What do some of the leaders in the industry think of using crossing arms?

Dick Fischer: “We must do everything possible to make our school buses safer. I strongly support having crossing arms on all school buses.”

Robert Pudlewski: “Of all the items you can add to a school bus to make it safer, the crossing arm is by far one of the most effective. To operate school buses without a crossing arm is needlessly putting student’s lives at risk. It should be mandatory in every state.”

Shelly Hall: “Student Transportation of America have crossing arms fitted on every school bus, in all the states we operate and in Canada. We believe this is an essential item of safety equipment and should be included on every school bus in North America.”

There are many devices on the market you can add to a school bus to improve its safety. However, none are proven to save more lives than crossing arms, and for such a low cost. Twenty less front-of-the-bus fatalities, decade over decade, proves this to be true.

Please do not put yourself in my position, knowing you could have saved a child’s life for only $400 per bus. Fit crossing gates to your fleet now.

Please note, neither I nor my company sell crossing arms or have any financial interest in any company that does sell them. My interest is in trying to persuade as many school districts and school bus contractors as possible to add crossing arms to further reduce front-of-the school bus student fatalities.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the February 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Jeff Cassell is the president and founder of School Bus Safety Company. All data cited is sourced from the National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey performed each year by the Kansas State Department of Education.

Related: What Do School Bus Drivers Want to Increase Safety?
Related: Safety in the Danger Zone
Related: (STN Podcast E237) Lives in Our Hands: Danger Zone Safety, Rising Star Talks Driver Training
Related: (STN Podcast E244) In the People Business: Underscoring & Improving School Bus Safety

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MESA, Ariz., – Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, announced a partnership with Onondaga County, New York, to implement an advanced school bus stop arm safety program to protect students and reduce dangerous traffic violations around school buses.

The program will start by equipping more than 500 school buses with cutting-edge stop arm safety camera technology to better protect children on their daily commute to and from school. The stop arm camera safety system will automatically document and report vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses, capturing critical evidence that can be used by law enforcement to uphold the law.

“Too often, drivers disregard laws that are intended to protect children while they are boarding and exiting school buses,” stated New York State Assemblyman William Magnarelli. “A recent study by the New York Association for Pupil Transportation determined that motorists pass stopped school buses more than five passes on average per day per bus. These cameras will serve as a deterrent to drivers from passing stopped school buses and ultimately save students’ lives.”

As one of the most extensive school bus stop arm programs in New York, the program will commence with six school districts, which include more than 20,000 students and more than 40 schools. The program is expected to roll out in phases with the launch to include:

Baldwinsville School District
East Syracuse Minoa School District
Fabius-Pompey School District
Jamesville-Dewitt School District
Liverpool School District
North Syracuse School District
“Onondaga County is pleased to announce our partnership with Verra Mobility on a stop-arm camera project aimed at ensuring safe travel to and from school,” said Onondaga County Executive J. Ryan McMahon, II. “This initiative will hold drivers accountable for illegally passing stopped school buses, helping to protect our children and make our roadways safer.”

The program will incorporate advanced AI integration, include a full-service solution to implement the school bus stop arm safety program, and deliver an expansive public education campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus. The technology will also help to increase camera performance in the extreme weather conditions surrounding the Syracuse area.

“Our stop arm safety technology has consistently demonstrated its ability to reduce dangerous traffic violations,” said Belinda Olivares, general manager of Verra Mobility’s Bus Safety Division. “In Onondaga County, we’re not just implementing a technology solution – we’re creating a comprehensive safety ecosystem that protects our most vulnerable road users. Our school bus stop arm program is about changing driver behavior and ultimately saving lives.”

Passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended is against the law. In New York, legislation has set fine offenses to start at $250 and increase with subsequent violations. When an illegal passing is captured, an event package (including video evidence of the violation) will be sent, verified, and approved by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office before being issued to the vehicle owner.

The program will have no up-front cost to Onondaga County or the school districts and will be funded through the citations received from the illegal behaviors. The remaining funds will stay with the County.

Verra Mobility’s stop arm safety program has shown that 98 percent of drivers who are issued a violation for illegally passing a stopped school bus do not repeat their behavior. Through community awareness, programs have experienced a more than 50% reduction in issued citations.

Verra Mobility will provide comprehensive training to district personnel and local law enforcement to ensure smooth implementation and maximum effectiveness of the stop arm safety program. Both parties aim to implement the program for the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year and will conduct an extensive public awareness campaign for 30 days prior to citations being issued.

Participating school districts’ superintendents are in support of this new initiative.

“The Baldwinsville Central School District has the responsibility to safely transport hundreds of students to and from school, athletic contests and special events every day. The installation of red light stop arm cameras is an additional tool that we can use to enhance our district’s safety measures and protect our students. To have Onondaga County team up with Verra Mobility for this program will send a strong message to motorists to obey school bus safety laws. This initiative not only raises awareness to the dangers of passing a school bus when the stop-arm is extended but it also holds drivers accountable. The safety of our students, whether it’s inside our schools or on our school buses, continues to be our top priority.”
Joseph M. DeBarbieri, Ed.D.,Superintendent of Schools, Baldwinsville Central School District

“Through our program with Onondaga County, we are taking a critical step toward ensuring the safety of our students by installing stop-arm cameras on school buses in partnership with Verra Mobility. These cameras have proven to significantly reduce traffic violations, enhance driver accountability, and ultimately prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities. By investing in these innovative safety solutions, we are not only enforcing traffic laws but also fostering a safer environment for our children and the entire community.”
Dr. Donna DeSiato, Superintendent, East Syracuse Minoa Central School District

“The Fabius-Pompey Central School District is dedicated to the safety and well-being of our students and the broader community. As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure student safety during transportation, we are excited to participate in a program with Verra Mobility to install stop arm cameras on our school buses.

We believe this program reflects our district’s values of caring for our students and community. By taking proactive measures to address this safety concern, Fabius-Pompey CSD is demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our students and the shared responsibility we all have in keeping them safe. Together, we can create a culture of safety and accountability throughout our community.”
Lloyd L. Peck, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Fabius Pompey Central School District

“The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District is thankful for this opportunity to work with Onondaga County to increase transportation safety for our students, staff, and the community. This program has real potential to help reduce unsafe driving across Central New York and better protect the youngest members of our community.”
Peter Smith, Superintendent, Jamesville-Dewitt School District

“The safety and security of Liverpool Central School District students is our top priority, both in our school buildings and on our school buses. The number of vehicles passing stopped school buses in Liverpool, as well as school districts across Onondaga County, has increased dramatically over the last few years. The addition of stop arm cameras on Liverpool school buses will assist our bus drivers in recording the license plates of those passing our buses illegally, ensuring the safety of students entering and exiting the bus. We are grateful to Verra Mobility and Onondaga County for including the Liverpool Central School District in this program.”
Douglas P. Lawrence, Interim Superintendent, Liverpool Central School District

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.

The post New York’s Onondaga County and Verra Mobility Prioritize Student Safety with One of the State’s Most Extensive School Bus Safety Programs appeared first on School Transportation News.

Every year, millions of children across the United States rely on school buses to get to and from school. With the rise of traffic and the increased distractions of daily life, ensuring that students can board and exit the bus safely has become more challenging. One of the most alarming issues on the road today is motorists illegally passing stopped school buses, when drivers ignore current external warning signs, putting children at risk of serious injury or death.

The Alarming Statistics are a Growing Problem

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) 2023 Stop Arm Survey, an astounding 62,482 vehicles illegally passed school buses on a single day during the 2022-2023 school year. With nearly 45 million illegal passes projected annually, the scope of this issue is staggering. This problem isn’t just a statistic; it’s a daily reality for school bus drivers and the children they transport.

In every state, it is illegal for drivers to pass a school bus when its stop-arm is extended and its red lights are flashing. Despite this clear rule, the violations continue, endangering the lives of children who are simply trying to get on or off the bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the most dangerous part of the school bus ride isn’t the ride itself but getting on and off the bus. This is when children are most vulnerable to being struck by an illegally passing vehicle.

Are Stop Arm Extensions a Game-Changing Solution?

As tragic as incidents are, there’s hope on the horizon in the form of an innovative solution: Stop Arm Extensions. These retractable barriers extend from the bus nearly 5 feet, making the stop signal even more visible to oncoming traffic. By increasing the visibility of the stop sign, even in poor weather conditions, through LED lights, and adding another barrier to vehicles from passing, stop arm extensions, like those from BusGates – a leading manufacturer of the technology – have shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of drive-arounds by as much as 95%.

In fact, research and studies suggest that visibility improvements on school buses are directly correlated with a reduction in traffic violations. BusGates’ innovative product provides a simple yet effective way to ensure that drivers stop when required, keeping children safe as they cross the street or board their bus.

The History of School Bus Safety

The school bus stop sign, introduced in 1939, has long been a vital part of keeping children safe. However, its design has largely remained unchanged for more than 30 years and its impact has been diminished, especially in high-traffic areas. Despite the sign’s clear indication to stop, too many drivers continue to violate the law, often with tragic results.

Stop arm extensions are an important evolution of the classic stop sign, a logical next step in improving school bus safety. Just as the original stop sign was a crucial advancement in its time, these extensions represent a modernization of a tried-and-true method to protect students.

Safety Improvements in Action

School districts across the U.S. are already seeing the benefits of stop arm extensions, and many have reported a dramatic reduction in incidents of vehicles illegally passing stopped buses, going from multiple incidents before the stop arms to zero after using stop arm extensions. One school district superintendent referred to the purchase of BusGates stop arm extensions as a “no brainer”. These successes are driving more districts to consider adopting the technology, and the results speak for themselves.

However, it’s not just about technology. School bus drivers, parents, and community leaders must all work together to educate the public about the dangers of passing a stopped bus. Awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of obeying the stop-arm laws are essential in building a culture of safety on the roads. When drivers understand the consequences of their actions, potentially causing harm to a child, they are more likely to respect the law.

A Call for Vigilance

While technology plays a crucial role in improving safety, it’s important for everyone, drivers, pedestrians, and passengers, to stay vigilant. Everyone must do their part to ensure that students can get on and off the school bus without the constant fear of being struck by a passing vehicle.

Whether you’re a parent, bus driver, or motorist, remember: when a school bus stops, we all must stop.

A Safer Future for All Children

As we look toward the future, stop arm extensions offer a glimpse of hope in the battle to keep kids safe as they travel to and from school. In an era where technology continuously reshapes the world, it’s clear that innovation is playing a crucial role in making school buses safer.

With continued efforts to integrate new safety measures, along with increased awareness and enforcement, the number of illegal passes can be reduced, helping to ensure that every child’s journey to school and back home is as safe as possible. In the fight to protect all children, BusGates stop arm extensions are a clear beginning.

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

The post New Stop Arm Technology Making School Bus Stops Safer appeared first on School Transportation News.

Three students were struck and killed by their own school bus and another three were similarly killed by illegal passing motorists during the 2023-2024 school year, according to a national survey of states.

The National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey results were shared on Sunday by Keith Dreiling, the state director of the school bus safety unit at the Kansas State Department of Education, during the annual meeting of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services in Arlington, Virginia. The six fatalities are double the amount reported by states for the 2022-2023 school year.

Two of last year’s fatalities occurred in New York. Both students there were killed by their school bus. An 8-year-old boy was struck on Jan. 29 by his school bus and killed by the right rear wheel after he reportedly ran in front of the vehicle as it was pulling into its loading zone at school. A 5-year-old girl was killed nearly three weeks later on Feb. 16, after she unloaded from her school bus and crossed in front of it. The school bus driver reportedly did not see her and began to accelerate, striking the girl and knocking her to the pavement. The bus continued forward and the left rear wheels killed the girl.

The other fatality caused by the school bus occurred on Jan. 17 in Florida, where a boy exited the vehicle and then dropped a football. He crawled beneath the school bus to retrieve it and in the process was struck and killed by the right rear dual wheels.

The three illegal passing fatalities occurred in Alabama, Georgia and Texas. The Alabama and Texas incidents involved 15-year-old students, the former a subject of a high-profile investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. A 15-year-old girl was in her front yard on Oct. 23, 2023, and about to board her morning school bus, when a truck following the school bus failed to stop, swerved to the right, and continued into the girl’s path, striking her and then her house.

The Texas fatality occurred on Dec. 7 last year, when an 18-wheel, tractor-trailer truck struck a vehicle in front of it that was properly stopped for the school bus. The truck driver then swerved to the right and struck the 15-year-old boy after he exited his bus.

An 8-year-old Georgia girl died on Feb. 4, three days after being hit by an illegally passing oncoming motorist as she was attempting to board her school bus. The incident resulted in Addy’s Law, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in April, to increase the fine for illegal school bus passers and add a prison term.

The school buses in the Alabama, Georgia and Texas incidents all had their red lights flashing and stop arms activated at the time of the collisions.

All U.S. states and the District of Columbia responded to the Kansas State Department of Education survey except New Jersey and Rhode Island, which refused to participate. The six recorded fatalities equal the amount reported for the 2021-2022 school year. The incidents all occurred in dry road conditions, with three occurring in daylight, two at dusk and one at dawn. Five of the fatalities occurred in clear weather conditions while one occurred in cloudy conditions.

The survey began in 1970 and has been conducted every year since. About 73 percent of the 1,273 total student fatalities recorded over the 54-year survey were students 9 years of age or younger. School buses have accounted for 717 of the total fatalities compared to 502 by illegally passing motorists and 54 categorized as “other information.” Sixty-four percent of all fatalities occurred during the morning commute to school.

Related: Louisiana 7-Year-Old Hit, Killed by School Bus
Related: Georgia Student Struck and Killed by Passing Vehicle
Related: Alabama High School Student Killed While Waiting for School Bus

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