ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — As National School Bus Safety Week approaches (October 21-25, 2024), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding drivers about the importance of slowing down and following safety protocols around school buses. While school buses remain one of the safest modes of transportation, accidents, and fatalities involving children occur most frequently outside or near the bus, often due to drivers illegally passing stopped buses.
Despite strict laws across the U.S. prohibiting the passing of school buses when their stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing, these violations continue to pose a serious risk. According to NHTSA data, from 2013 to 2022, there were 1.5 times more fatalities among pedestrians (169) than bus occupants (111) in school-bus-related crashes. Among the 111 school-age children (18 years and younger) who died during that time, 25 were pedestrians. Further, between 2000 and 2022, there were 55 fatalities directly tied to drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, with nearly half of those victims being children on foot.
Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith emphasized the need for drivers to follow the law when approaching a school bus. “When a school bus’s red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, drivers must slow down and come to a complete stop. This is not a suggestion — it’s the law,” said Smith.
Yellow flashing lights signal that a bus is preparing to stop, alerting drivers to begin slowing down. Once the bus has come to a stop, motorists must remain stationary until the red lights are turned off, the stop arm is retracted, and the bus begins moving again.
A key area of concern is the “Danger Zone,” the area around a school bus where children are at greatest risk because the driver may not be able to see them. This zone includes the area 10 feet in front of the bus, where the driver may sit too high to see, and 10 feet on either side, where blind spots pose a threat.
National School Bus Safety Week serves as a reminder to drivers to remain vigilant and ensure that children traveling to and from school do so safely. Parents and caregivers are also urged to discuss safety measures with their children, particularly in relation to the Danger Zone.
As the community prepares for this safety week, authorities are hoping drivers will take extra precautions to help prevent future tragedies.