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News release from the Indiana State Police:<\/p>\n
October 20 to 24 is School Bus Safety Week<\/strong><\/p>\n
Dr. Terry Tippin, Executive director of School Transportation Association of Indiana, would like to pass along the following media release. Monday starts School Bus Safety Week.<\/p>\n
When the Reds are Flashing, There is No Passing: Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Driver Ryan Preece Reminds Drivers to Protect Students on the Road<\/em><\/p>\n
Indianapolis, Indiana (October 20, 2025) \u2014 During National School Bus Safety Week, organizations from across the country are joining together, including School Transportation Association of Indiana, Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation, the National School Transportation Association, Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, Blue Bird Corporation and ROUSH CleanTech are joining the nationwide call to remind motorists that stopping for a school bus is not optional\u2014it\u2019s the law and a matter of life and death.<\/p>\n
To raise awareness, RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece appears in a new video campaign showing that even professional drivers stop for school buses. In the video, Preece, who drives the No. 60 car, reinforces the message that safety around school buses is everyone\u2019s responsibility\u2014no matter your experience behind the wheel.<\/p>\n
This message is especially critical in light of new findings released by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). Each school day, millions of students across the U.S. depend on the yellow school bus\u2014the safest form of student transportation\u2014to get to and from school. Yet, new data from the NASDPTS reveals that illegal passings of stopped school buses remain a major threat to student safety.<\/p>\n
According to NASDPTS\u2019s thirteenth annual National Stop Arm Violation Survey, 114,239 school bus drivers in 36 states and the District of Columbia reported 67,258 vehicles illegally passing their stopped buses in just one day during the 2024\u20132025 school year. When projected across all U.S. school bus drivers, that\u2019s more than 39.3 million violations per year. Although this marks a decrease from 45.2 million violations in the previous year, the issue remains alarming.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with these corrected numbers, the illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be the greatest safety danger to children,\u201d said NASDPTS President Mike Stier. \u201cRegardless of the number, 39.3 million violations is simply too many. We continue to encourage each state to raise awareness on this important safety issue and to do everything possible to ensure motorists put the safety of school children first.\u201d<\/p>\n
The annual survey, conducted since 2011, highlights the ongoing need for education, enforcement, and vigilance to prevent these dangerous incidents. In recent years, several states have strengthened penalties, authorized camera-based enforcement, and implemented new awareness campaigns\u2014all steps toward safer roads for students.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time a driver illegally passes a stopped school bus, they put a child\u2019s life at risk,\u201d said Katrina Morris, Executive Director at Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cStopping for a school bus takes only a few seconds, but it can prevent a lifetime of heartache. We urge all motorists to slow down, stay alert, and always stop when red lights are flashing.\u201d<\/p>\n