Nearly Half of School Bus Riders Report Close Calls with Drivers Who Ignore Flashing Lights

# What happened

# What the data shows The survey measures parents' experiences and perceptions of danger around school transportation. Parents believe risky driving near kids is widespread and often deliberate: 53% of parents told GHSA they think drivers act recklessly because they don't expect to be caught.

Support for specific countermeasures is strong across the board. Majorities of parents backed every option polled:

• 92% support public safety campaigns aimed at educating drivers,
• 91% support automatic ticketing for drivers who ignore the bus crossing arm and flashing lights,
• 90% want visible police monitoring school zones and bus stops,
• 88% support using speed cameras to deter speeding in school areas.

GHSA CEO Jonathan Adkins summarized the findings: "Parents are telling us that dangerous driving around school buses and school zones is not an abstract concern but something their children are experiencing firsthand." He framed education as essential while saying parents also want accountability when drivers put children at risk.

# Real-world examples reported by parents The survey collected parent anecdotes that show how narrowly some incidents missed becoming tragedies. Representative accounts include:

• A child froze as a bus driver honked when an SUV ignored the bus's flashing red lights and stop-arm, passing the driver's side of the bus.
• A driver attempted to pass a bus on the side where a child was boarding and nearly struck the child.
• A car swerved within feet of a child crossing in front of a bus with lights flashing and the stop sign arm extended.

These stories underline how small changes in timing or attention can make the difference between a scare and a fatal crash.

# Enforcement, technology, and policy context

The survey results suggest parents favor a mix of education, visible enforcement, automated ticketing, and camera-based deterrents to reduce risky driving around schools.

# Practical takeaways for communities

• Consider layered approaches: combine public-safety campaigns with visible enforcement and camera-based deterrents.
• Prioritize proven tools where legal frameworks allow—speed cameras and automated ticketing earned broad parental support in the survey.
• Treat bus-stop incidents as immediate safety problems, not hypothetical policy points: many parents say close calls are happening now.

The GHSA urges communities to use every proven tool and technology available to make school travel safer as the school year proceeds.