American School Bus Council Names National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest Winner

Artwork from Bryan Torres-Tavarez, a 12th grader at Stars Academy in Paterson, N.J., was chosen to promote the “Red Means STOP!” theme.

by SBF Staff

October 20, 2020

American School Bus Council Names National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest Winner — Artwork from Bryan Torres-Tavarez, a 12th grader at Stars Academy in Paterson, N.J., was chosen to promote the “Red Means STOP!” theme for National School Bus Safety Week.
Image courtesy American School Bus Council

2 min to read

The American School Bus Council (ASBC) has named the winner of its annual National School Bus Safety Week poster contest.

Annually, ASBC encourages students to enter its poster contest to help artistically represent the safety theme through a child’s eyes, the organization said in a news release. Thousands of school districts in more than 40 states participate in local- and state-level competitions. The winning posters are used to promote safer school transportation for everyone. State winners advance to the national contest.

“Red Lights Mean STOP!” is the 2019-20 School Bus Safety Week theme. The theme highlights the importance of motorists knowing when to stop for a school bus that is picking up students.

In 2019, a poster drawn by Bryan Torres-Tavarez, a 12th grader at Stars Academy in Paterson, N.J., was chosen to promote the “Red Means STOP!” theme. As the overall winner, Torres-Tavarez received a $500 check, and 54,000 copies of his poster have been printed and distributed across the U.S. to schools and other locations to promote school bus safety.

ASBC and the industry are now looking toward next year’s National School Bus Safety Week, when the theme will be “Be Safe — Know the Danger Zone.” The posters must be submitted to state directors by Jan. 1, 2021 or the designated individual state deadline.

Each participating U.S. state, Canadian province, or overseas U.S. military installation may submit one (only first-place winners) winning poster to ASBC in each of the following categories:

·   Division #1 - Grades K–2
·   Division #2 - Grades 3–5
·   Division #3 - Grade 6–8
·   Division #4 - Special education (Grades K–12)
·   Division #5 - CAD (Computer-Aided Drawing)
·   Division #6 - International entries

Prizes will be awarded for each division as follows:

·   1st place and overall winner - $500 check
·   1st place winners of remaining three divisions - $250 check
·   2nd place winners of each of the four divisions - $100 check
·   3rd place winners of each of the four divisions - $50 check
·   1st place winner – CAD division - $50 check
·   1st place winner – International division - $50 check

Poster winners will be notified, and prizes will be sent in May 2021. The 1st Place/overall winning poster will be used to promote National School Bus Safety Week for 2021.

For more information on the poster contest or to obtain copies, email deb@americanschoolbuscouncil.org.

Get more information and materials on keeping students safe in the danger zone.

Topics:National School Bus Safety Week American School Bus Council NAPT NASDPTS NSTA Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.