# US school zone and bus safety initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-school-zone-and-bus-safety-initiatives > Updated: 2026-08-16T18:36:43.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. As the new school year begins in the United States, transportation authorities in Ohio and Pennsylvania are issuing safety reminders and regulations for motorists and students. In Ohio, the State Highway Patrol is emphasizing driver compliance with laws regarding school buses, noting that vehicles must stop at least 10 feet away from a bus with red lights and an extended stop arm. Officials highlighted the importance of bus inspections, noting that nearly 40,000 inspections were completed in 2025 to ensure student safety. Similarly, PennDOT in Pennsylvania has issued guidance for motorists and parents, reminding drivers to slow down near flashing yellow lights and adhere to 15 mph speed limits in school zones. Pennsylvania law also requires motorists to stop 10 feet from buses unless separated by a physical barrier on a divided highway. Safety efforts in the region are increasingly incorporating solar-powered signage and following federal ‘Safe Routes to School’ specifications. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-16: PennDOT issues safety reminders for school zones and bus stops PennDOT and transportation officials are emphasizing school zone safety and bus stop laws as students return to school, highlighting the importance of speed limits and solar-powered safety signage. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/penndot-issues-safety-reminders-for-school-zones-and-bus-stops ### 2026-08-01: Ohio State Highway Patrol urges driver safety for school buses The Ohio State Highway Patrol is urging drivers to follow bus‑stop laws and reminding districts of annual inspections as the school year starts, citing 7,179 crashes since 2021 and over 39,000 inspections in 5 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ohio-state-highway-patrol-urges-driver-safety-for-school-buses --- Cite as: US school zone and bus safety initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-school-zone-and-bus-safety-initiatives