Ohio State Highway Patrol urges driver safety for school buses

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is urging drivers to share the road with school buses and obey traffic laws as the new school year begins. Governor Mike DeWine emphasized that “every student in Ohio deserves a safe ride to and from school, and that safety is a responsibility all drivers share.”

OSHP statistics show 7,179 traffic crashes involving school buses since 2021, including six fatal crashes that claimed six lives, one of them a student. The patrol reminded motorists of the law requiring vehicles to stop at least 10 feet from a stopped bus with red lights and stop arm extended, and to remain stopped until the bus signals it is safe to proceed.

The agency also highlighted its role in bus inspections, noting that in 2025 its Licensing and Commercial Standards section completed 39,488 school‑bus inspections to keep roughly 800,000 Ohio students safe. Colonel Charles A. Jones, OSHP superintendent, said the patrol’s “highest priority is the safety of Ohio’s children,” and that the additional inspections help identify mechanical issues before they become hazards.