The Bus Stop Is Part of the Ride: A Family Guide for School Bus Safety Week

School buses are the safest way to get to school, but the stop and the street around it need extra care. Here is what the latest numbers show and how to practice safe habits before National School Bus Safety Week, October 19–23.

National School Bus Safety Week runs October 19–23, 2026. It is a yearly public education campaign held the third full week of October, sponsored by three national pupil transportation groups. This year's theme is "Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes" [1]. Many schools use the week to review bus rules, so now is a good time to get ahead of it at home.

Why does it matter? Riding inside a school bus is very safe. Federal safety officials call buses the safest way for children to travel to and from school [2]. The bigger risk is outside the bus: at the stop, while crossing the street, and from drivers who don't stop when they should. A national survey released this summer found that illegal passing of stopped school buses is slowly going down, but it still happens millions of times a year [3]. A few simple habits can help your child stay safe in those few minutes each day.

What the latest numbers show

Each year, school bus drivers across the country count how many vehicles pass their bus while it is stopped with red lights flashing and the stop arm out. In 2026, more than 101,000 drivers in 39 states and Washington, D.C., took part. On a single day, they reported over 56,000 illegal passes [3].

The survey group, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), uses those reports to estimate about 38.4 million illegal passes over a 180-day school year. That is down 2.3% from the year before and lower than the 45.2 million estimated two years ago [3]. Passes per bus reached a 14-year low.

One trend stands out for families. Passes on the right side of the bus, the side where the door opens and children get on and off, reached their highest share on record [3]. That is a key reason children are taught to wait well back from the curb.

Federal data show why this matters. From 2000 through 2024, 63 people died in crashes involving drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, and 27 of them were pedestrians age 18 or younger [2]. Over a longer span, more child pedestrians than bus passengers have died in school-bus-related crashes [2].

How communities are responding

In March 2026, the Governors Highway Safety Association and a stop-arm camera company released what they described as the first national action plan focused on illegal school bus passing. It lists 69 recommendations for police, school districts, courts and others [4]. Ideas include cameras mounted on buses, which already run on more than 40,000 buses in about two dozen states, and training so courts treat these cases seriously [4]. The plan's authors note that drivers change their behavior most when they believe they are likely to be caught [4].

The “danger zone” and other basics

Safety officials talk about a danger zone of about 10 feet around the bus, where the driver may not be able to see a child [5]. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shares these basics for students [5]:

• Arrive early. Get to the stop at least five minutes before the bus is due, so no one has to run.
• Wait back from the road. Stand at least 10 feet, or five giant steps, away from the curb. The stop is not a place to play.
• Wait for the signal. Board only after the bus has fully stopped, the door is open and the driver says it's OK. Use the handrail.
• Cross in front, never behind. Walk at least five giant steps ahead of the bus, make eye contact with the driver, then cross.
• Leave dropped items. If something falls near the bus, tell the driver right away instead of picking it up.

For a short version to share, see our earlier post, Bus Stop Safety: The Ten-Foot Rule.

What families can do this week

1. Walk the route together. Go to the stop with your child once this week. Point out where to stand (five giant steps back from the curb) and where it is safe to cross.
2. Practice the crossing. If your child crosses the street to board or after getting off, practice walking five giant steps ahead of the bus and waiting for the driver's nod before crossing [5].
3. Set a “leave it” rule. Agree that a dropped paper, hat or phone near the bus stays on the ground until the driver says it's safe [5].
4. Plan for darker mornings. Fall mornings are getting darker. Add reflective tape to backpacks or jackets, and give younger children a small flashlight for the walk.
5. Check your own driving. If you drive near bus stops, slow down when yellow lights flash and always stop for red lights and an extended stop arm [2][5]. Rules for divided roads vary by state, so check your state driver handbook.
6. Ask your school one question. During Safety Week, ask how your district reviews bus rules with students and how to report a driver who passes a stopped bus.

Sources

1. National School Bus Safety Week and Poster Contest (Ohio Department of Education and Workforce)
2. School Bus Safety (Traffic Safety Marketing, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA))
3. 2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing (School Bus Fleet, July 21, 2026)
4. 39 Million Times a Year, Drivers Illegally Pass a Stopped School Bus. America Just Got Its First Plan to Stop Them (WFTV, April 8, 2026)
5. School Bus Safety (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA))

This post is general information. Your school's own plan comes first, so ask the school office for its specific procedures.