Each school day, nearly 25 million children board and exit approximately 500,000 school buses across the United States. National estimates suggest tens of millions of illegal passing violations occur each year, placing students at risk during roughly 180 school days of morning pickups and afternoon drop-offs.
Research Leadership Appointment
Child Safety Network (CSN) has appointed Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., as chief scientific investigator. Hout is assistant dean and professor of psychology at New Mexico State University and specializes in visual cognition, attention, perception and memory. A former National Science Foundation program director, he co-led the programs Perception, Action and Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience and is the incoming editor in chief of Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics.
Hout earned both his M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from Arizona State University. His research focuses on how people interpret complex visual environments and make rapid decisions in real-world conditions, including factors that may explain why drivers fail to stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights and deployed stop arms.
Using eye-tracking analysis, controlled driving simulations and concealed study objectives to capture authentic responses, researchers will examine whether violations stem from distraction, misperception, misunderstanding of traffic laws, cognitive overload or intentional risk-taking.
Study Scope and Questions
One national study estimated approximately 40 million illegal passing incidents during the 2024–2025 school year. The research aims to examine who is responsible for these violations and why they occur.
Questions include whether violations are linked to driver demographics, decision-making errors or repeated offenders. Some law enforcement professionals in the school bus industry believe the estimated number of illegal passings may be higher, citing the presence of “serial stop-arm runners.”
CSN said the research will inform a targeted public awareness campaign supported by measurable outcomes, including digital rewards for people who complete educational programs on school bus stop-arm laws. The organization also supports the use of stop-arm cameras on school buses and in school zones to document violations.
Technology and Safety Measures
One technology under evaluation is BusGates, a system designed to create an illuminated visual and physical barrier extending from the stop arm to deter illegal passing. Pilot districts and state agencies are evaluating the system, which CSN said has shown up to 95% effectiveness in early implementations.
“Findings from the research will guide a coordinated national strategy that combines strengthened public awareness, targeted driver education, collaboration with state departments of public safety, local law enforcement, and the deployment of visibility enhancements and deterrent technologies,” said CSN senior adviser Bill Arrington, formerly responsible for surface transportation security nationwide under the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration.
Partnerships and Program Goals
CSN said measurable reductions in illegal passing violations will depend on partnerships, sponsorship and funding. The nonprofit organization said it does not profit from recommending safety technology and evaluates solutions based on their ability to improve student safety.
Building on bipartisan U.S. Senate endorsement of National School Bus Safety Month and the expansion of the CSN SafeRide program, the initiative aims to support broader adoption of safety measures designed to protect children traveling to and from school.
Industry professionals, schools and corporate sponsors are invited to participate in the initiative. Additional information is available by calling 800-906-6901.
