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As parents, there are countless things you worry about when your child leaves for school each morning. One thing most of us don't think about often is the few moments when our children are getting on or off the school bus. Yet those moments can be some of the most dangerous. Every day, drivers illegally pass stopped school buses while children are crossing streets, walking to sidewalks, or stepping onto the bus. It's a problem that school transportation professionals have b

Every day, millions of kids step off a school bus and cross the street, and as parents, we all know that’s a dangerous part of their day. Across the country, a lot of communities have turned to camera programs to deal with drivers who go around stopped buses. Those systems do what they’re supposed to do: they document violations and issue tickets. But that’s really where it ends. The bigger issue is still happening. Even with these systems in place, thousands of drivers conti

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,