National School Bus Safety Week 2025
October 20–24, 2025
This year, we unite under the theme: Safe Stops. Stronger Communities. Every stop is a chance to protect lives. When we choose safety, we’re not just preventing crashes—we’re strengthening the very communities we love. Together, we can protect every journey, ensuring safety at every stop!
Every school day, millions of children take their seats on a yellow school bus—the safest way to and from school. Yet safety doesn’t stop at the bus doors. It requires every driver, every lawmaker, every community member to take responsibility. When red lights flash and the stop-arm is extended, we all have one simple choice: stop.
The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) reports that drivers illegally pass stopped school buses more than 39 million times each year. Each violation represents more than a statistic—it is a moment when a child’s life is in danger. While we’ve seen progress with a 13% reduction in violations this past year, far too many risks remain on our roadways.
As Melissa Wandall, President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads, shares:
“School buses carry our most precious cargo—our children. Every stop is a chance to protect their journey. When we choose safety and choose caution, we honor this year’s theme: Safe Stops. Stronger Communities. Together, we can drive down insatiable heartache on our roadways and build safer communities for every child.”
SAFETY AT EVERY STOP
This year’s message is also a reminder: safety doesn’t begin or end with the bus ride. It’s about Safety at Every Stop—from the moment a child leaves their front door to the time they return home.
- Stay alert. Slow down in school zones and neighborhoods.
- Stop for the bus. Obey the stop-arm law every time—no exceptions.
- Support accountability. Technology and enforcement work hand in tandem to change driver behavior.
- Raise awareness. Share facts, resources, and personal stories that open eyes and change hearts.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE STOP-ARM PROGRAM RESULTS
The 2024–25 school year produced remarkable outcomes from school bus stop-arm camera programs across the nation:
- 67% reduction in citations from the beginning of the school year to the end
- 98% of violators did not repeat an offense
Programs demonstrate that consistent enforcement and education work—drivers are learning that stop-arm violations carry consequences, and children are safer because of it.
These results reinforce a powerful truth: when communities commit to enforcement and awareness, behavior changes, and lives are saved.
*Verra Mobility School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Program Data 2024-2025
WHAT DO THE NUMBERS SAY?
- 39.3 million illegal stop-arm violations were recorded in 2024–2025 across the U.S.—down from 45.2 million the year before.
- On one school day alone, 67,258 illegal passings were reported in 36 states.
- School buses safely transport 21.4 million children daily—but zones around loading and unloading remain the most dangerous.
- Stop-arm camera programs and stronger enforcement are helping reduce violations by up to 40% in some districts.
*NASDPTS 2025 National Survey (2024–2025 school year)
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
From 2014 to 2023, nearly 1,100 children died in school-bus-related crashes. These tragedies are preventable. Together, through education, enforcement, and awareness, we can build a culture of safety that protects every child, every day.
Take Action During National School Bus Safety Week
- Share the message. Share the downloadable graphics to spread the word.
- Advocate. Support life-saving legislation that equips buses with stop-arm cameras.
- Educate others. Remind friends, family, and neighbors: Stop when the bus stops—it’s the law, and it saves lives.
Together, we can drive down heartache and create safer roads for our children.
LIFE-SAVING LEGISLATION
While stop-arm laws exist in all 50 states, the data shows that more work is needed to address the problem.
Don’t know what the stop-arm laws are in your state? Find them at: https://www.drive-safely.net/school-bus-laws/.
To help combat this issue, more states are working to catch drivers and hold them accountable for illegally passing school buses. Road safety champions have helped to expand and progress life-saving legislation by allowing cameras to be placed outside the bus to record such events.
For more information and resources on how to get involved, visit the National Coalition for Safer Roads’ legislative resources page:
EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT
Safety belongs to us all, and every action counts. Join us in raising awareness by sharing the resources below.
We are committed to promoting and enhancing school bus safety. Let’s work together to create a safer environment for students across the nation.
Right-click and ‘save image as’ to download these graphics and share them on your social media channels.
