HARRISBURG – Sen. Judy Ward (R-30), Sen. Scott Martin (R-13) and Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) held a news conference about the importance of school bus safety at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.
“There is nothing more important than stopping for children approaching and exiting school buses,” Ward said. “It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus in every state. I urge all Pennsylvania drivers to end the practice of passing stopped school buses and obey all traffic devices, including the school bus stop signs and flashing lights.”
Martin, along with Ward, plan to introduce a resolution to designate Oct. 20-24, 2025 as School Bus Safety Week in Pennsylvania. Aligning with National School Bus Safety Week, the resolution aims to spotlight critical safety measures and acknowledge the vital role of school bus drivers in ensuring the safe and timely travel of Pennsylvania children.
“Each year, approximately 450,000 school buses travel around 4.3 billion miles nationwide, transporting about 23.5 million students to and from school and school-related activities,” Martin said. “Whether we are parents, bus drivers, motorists, or even lawmakers, we all have a role to play in making sure every one of these trips is completed safely.”
Baker recently introduced Senate Bill 65, which aims to enhance the safe transportation of school children by extending the stopping distance requirement for a driver approaching a stopped school bus from 10 feet to 15 feet when the bus’s red signal lights are flashing and the side stop arm is activated. The bill would also develop a tiered penalty system for a second or subsequent offense.
“Over the years, we have changed laws, enhanced enforcement, and increased penalties to make it safer for children to load onto and depart from a school bus. Unfortunately, we continue to receive reports of drivers who recklessly choose to speed up rather than slow down,” Baker said. “In consultation with public safety officials, we have determined that strengthening the consequences for risky, life-threatening behavior is necessary to deal with those who refuse to comply with common sense and considerate driving practices.”
“School bus safety is not just a priority,” said Gerry Wosewick, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association. “It’s a promise we make to every family in Pennsylvania. Every day our drivers and contractors uphold that promise by ensuring the ride to and from school remains the safest part of a child’s day. The PSBA is proud to stand alongside principled leaders committed to ensuring the safety of the future leaders of our commonwealth.”
There are approximately 1.5 million children who travel on a school bus each day in Pennsylvania. The law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from a school bus with flashing red lights and stop arm activated. Motorists must also slow down when approaching a school bus with flashing amber lights. Failure to stop for a school bus may result in criminal penalties, including a 60-day license suspension, five points on the driving record and a $250 fine. A person who illegally passes a stopped school bus with an automated stop arm enforcement system is civilly liable for a $300 fine.
VIDEO: Senators recognize School Bus Safety Week.
CONTACT: Nolan Ritchie (Sen. J. Ward), 717-787-5490
Jason Thompson (Sen. Martin), 717-787-6535
Chris Ramsey (Sen. Baker), 717-787-7428