The work that goes into making every school bus ride safe often happens behind the scenes. National School Bus Safety Week brings that work into focus, along with the challenges that continue to put students at risk.

Observed October 19–23, 2026, this year's National School Bus Safety Week theme, "Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes," recognizes the school transportation professionals who help protect students every day while encouraging schools, families, and motorists to reinforce safe behaviors.

The annual event, designated by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), also highlights the importance of preventing illegal passing, educating motorists, and teaching students how to navigate the danger zone around school buses.

This year's National School Bus Safety Week poster contest winner is Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas.

To help school transportation departments make the most of the week, we’ve gathered practical safety advice, educational toolkits, and resources that districts can share with their communities.

Illegal School Bus Passing Remains a Safety Concern

Despite signs of progress, illegal passing remains a significant threat to students boarding and exiting school buses.

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), an estimated 38.4 million illegal school bus passings occurred during the 2025–26 school year. Although that represents a decline year-over-year, motorists still illegally pass stopped school buses an estimated 213,800 times on a typical school day.

The risks extend beyond reported violations. In a Verra Mobility survey of 2,000 parents and caregivers, one in three respondents reported witnessing a near miss involving a stopped school bus.

"The biggest risk is drivers illegally passing stopped buses, often on multi-lane roads where they wrongly think they don’t need to stop," said Matthew Reich, head of growth and strategic partnerships for Verra Mobility's School Bus Division.

"Due to this lack of knowledge surrounding school bus safety and drivers continuing to be more distracted every day, we see a continual increase in risk to our students loading and unloading from the bus," he said.

Reich said families can help by practicing safe bus stop routines with younger children and using reflective gear to improve visibility. Transportation departments can also review violation data to identify locations where moving stops away from high-traffic roads may reduce risk.

Reinforcing Safe Habits Around the School Bus

While motorist behavior remains a major concern, teaching children how to approach, board, and exit school buses safely is another important part of prevention.

"It starts with the ‘danger zone,’ the 10 feet around the bus where drivers have the hardest time seeing children," Reich said. "Students should arrive early, wait three big steps back from the curb, and approach only after the bus stops completely and the driver signals."

He also emphasized the importance of teaching students safe crossing procedures.

"When crossing, they should walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus, make eye contact with the driver, and never cross behind it,” he explained. “Parents can help by waiting on the same side of the street at drop-off so kids aren't tempted to run across traffic."

These habits can be reinforced through classroom instruction, parent communications, and regular reminders from school transportation departments throughout the year.

How Stop-Arm Cameras Can Support Student Safety

Alongside education and awareness campaigns, technology can help districts address dangerous motorist behavior around stopped school buses.

"Education teaches kids how to stay safe, but it can’t stop a driver from passing a stop arm, and that’s where technology helps," Reich said.

According to Verra Mobility, some of its stop-arm enforcement programs have recorded violation reductions of up to 50% within two months of implementation. The company also reports that 98% of drivers who receive one violation do not receive a second.

Beyond enforcement, Reich said violation data can help districts identify problem areas and make more informed routing and bus stop decisions.

"82% of parents in our survey support stop-arm cameras, showing us that the community supports the safety these programs provide," Reich said. "When we pair enforcement with education at home and in the classroom, we give students the strongest protection possible."

Free National School Bus Safety Week Toolkits and Resources

National School Bus Safety Week offers transportation departments an opportunity to engage students, parents, school staff, and local motorists through safety campaigns and educational materials.

The following resources can help districts share consistent safety messaging throughout the week and beyond:

• NHTSA School Bus Safety Resources: Safety guidance for motorists, parents, caregivers, and students, including information on school bus stopping laws and safe boarding and exiting practices.
• Traffic Safety Marketing: School Bus Safety: Campaign materials and messaging resources designed to help organizations promote school bus safety awareness.
• National School Bus Safety Week 2026 — NCSRS: National School Bus Safety Week information and educational resources.
• NASDPTS National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Information and resources supporting the annual safety awareness campaign.
• Verra Mobility School Bus Safety Toolkit: Customizable social media graphics, educational content, and safety messaging for districts and community organizations. The company is promoting its "Stop Today. Protect Tomorrow." campaign.

Districts can incorporate these resources into newsletters, social media posts, driver training reminders, and classroom activities to keep school bus safety top of mind.

More School Bus Safety Coverage from 2026

School bus safety extends well beyond one week. Throughout 2026, we have covered the policies, technologies, and strategies shaping how transportation departments protect students.

Explore these stories for additional insights and ideas:

• Why School Bus Stop-Arm Enforcement Programs Are Working
• National Action Plan Aims to End Illegal School Bus Passings Across the U.S.
• Where Is All This Tech Taking Us in 2026?
• Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate
• What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
• How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
• Should School Buses Have AEDs? OEM’s New Safety Investment Sparks Discussion
• Autonomous Vehicles Aren’t Built for Student Transportation [Op-Ed]