National School Bus Safety Week starts October 21

Joe Lyons • October 21, 2024

Ashland – National School Bus Safety Week begins Monday, October 21 and runs through Friday,
October 25. During this time, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will increase enforcement efforts regarding
school bus violations. These violations include passing a stopped school bus, school zone violations and
other school bus or school zone-related activity.

National School Bus Safety Week is supported by the National Association for Pupil Transportation and
serves as a reminder to motorists, students and school bus drivers of the important role they all have in
ensuring children’s safety. This year’s theme is “Safety First – Safety Always,” a unique reminder to
both motorists and students about the dangers that exist outside the school bus.

“School Bus Safety Week serves as an important reminder that keeping Ohio’s children safe as they
travel to and from school requires a collective effort,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “I encourage all
drivers, parents, and students to stay vigilant, follow traffic laws, and work together to ensure everyone
gets to their destinations safely.”

Prior to stopping, school buses display yellow warning lights that signify the bus is about to stop. Once a
bus comes to a complete stop, red flashing lights and a stop sign are displayed. Motorists approaching a
stopped school bus from either direction are required to stop at least 10 feet from the bus while the bus
driver is receiving or discharging students. When a road is divided into four or more lanes, only traffic
driving in the same direction as the bus must stop. Drivers may not resume their travels until the bus
starts moving.

“The Ohio State Highway Patrol is committed to ensuring the safety of students who rely on school
transportation every day,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “While drivers are
legally required to stop for school buses when children are boarding or exiting, it is just as important for
students to look both ways and cross the road with caution.”

Since 2019, there has been a total of 6,415 school bus-related traffic crashes in Ohio, resulting in eight
fatalities and 2,064 injuries. One of the eight killed was an occupant of a school bus. During that time,
troopers have issued more than 16,500 citations for passing a stopped school bus and other school zone
violations.

Additionally, school buses are required to be inspected twice a year to ensure the bus is operating
properly. Every bus used to transport students is inspected before the beginning of the school year and
once randomly during the year. Since 2019, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has performed more than
200,000 inspections.