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Launches new Safety Campaign to reduce illegal passing of school buses in real time. ILLINOIS – In recognition of April being designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, BusGates®, the makers of LED stop arm extensions, is raising awareness about the ongoing risks students face at school bus stops and asking drivers to be more diligent while encouraging communities to consider additional safety measures aimed at preventing illegal passing incidents that put students at

What happens when drivers don't stop for a school bus? For Ball-Chatham school bus driver Cindy Morris, it's something she's seen firsthand, cars illegally passing her stopped bus while children are loading and unloading. In those moments, the risk is immediate and real. A Change You Can See Since installing the BusGates® stop arm, Cindy has noticed a clear difference.  Drivers are slowing down.  They’re stopping.  They’re paying attention.  What used to feel unpredictable is

A newly released  National School Bus Safety Action Plan  developed with leadership from the Governors Highway Safety Association and partners across the student transportation industry, aims to address the issue of illegal drive-arounds. The report outlines dozens of recommendations designed to reduce illegal passings and improve safety around school buses nationwide. The Ongoing Challenge of Illegal Bus Passing Each year, transportation officials report thousands of inciden

Illegal passing remains a widespread risk despite increased awareness. There are laws and national safety campaigns in all 50 U.S. states requiring drivers to stop for school buses, especially with extended stop arms and flashing red lights. According to national survey data collected in 2024–2025, school bus drivers reported 67,258 illegal passing incidents in a single day across participating states. When extrapolated to represent all U.S. buses over a typical school year,

Willow River proud to install stop arm extensions on their buses. A new year, and new additions for the school buses at Willow River. The fleet of seven now has stop arm extensions from BusGates. The equipment attaches to the stop arm, extending it about five feet, and light up, making it easier to see. Adapting Stop-Arm Extensions to Meet State Requirements Transportation Supervisor Nate Berg is passionate about making sure people obey the stop arm law. “We see about 10 viol

School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the U.S., yet the most dangerous moments for students don’t happen on the bus, they happen around it. Every day, millions of children rely on motorists to obey stop-arm laws. And every day, too many don’t. National survey data shows tens of millions of illegal stop-arm passings occur each year, putting students at risk when they’re boarding or exiting the bus. This is the problem we set out to solve at BusGates. Ex