National School Bus Safety Week prompts driver alerts

National School Bus Safety Week, observed from October 19–23, 2026, has prompted safety reminders from various agencies and school districts. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging motorists to slow down, stay alert, and obey stop arms to protect the millions of children who ride school buses daily.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that between 2015 and 2024, school-bus-related crashes resulted in an average of 107 fatalities annually, including 204 school-age children. Additionally, 63 people died in crashes involving drivers illegally passing stopped buses between 2000 and 2024.

In Kentucky, Franklin County Schools (FCS) is highlighting updated state legislation regarding bus safety. Under the new law, motorists traveling in both directions on undivided roadways must come to a complete stop when a bus activates its red warning lights and stop arm, unless the road has four or more lanes separated by a physical barrier or unpaved median. FCS is also encouraging parents to teach children to stay at least 10 feet away from buses to avoid the driver’s ‘Danger Zone’ and to use reflective clothing during dark mornings.