Why the BUILD America 250 Act Gives Us Hope for School Bus Safety

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 been talking about for years, and one that many bus drivers witness firsthand on their routes.

That's why we’re encouraged to see the BUILD America 250 Act include new provisions focused on illegal school bus passing and student safety. The legislation recognizes that this is a national issue that deserves attention, awareness, and action.

At BusGates®, this issue is personal. We didn't start this company because we saw a business opportunity, we started it because we saw a safety problem. As parents, we believe no child should be put at risk simply because a driver failed to notice a stopped school bus.

While awareness and enforcement are important, we also believe prevention matters. That's why we developed stop arm extensions that make school buses more visible to approaching drivers during pickup and drop-off.

Protecting children is something parents, teachers, school administrators, and transportation professionals can all agree on. Every child deserves a safe trip to and from school, and every step we take toward improving that safety is a step worth taking.