SchoolBus logo in red and orange
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

School Bus Driver Told by Police to Stop Blocking Road With Bus

The Massachusetts driver, apparently frustrated with motorists passing stopped buses, diagonally blocks a two-lane road with her bus until she is told to stop.

November 26, 2018
2 min to read


SUTTON, Mass. — After a school bus driver who was apparently frustrated with motorists illegally passing school buses reportedly blocked a road diagonally with her bus in response was told by police to stop, Telegram & Gazette reports.

Photos of the bus parked across the two-lane road earlier this month were posted on Facebook (see photo posted to the Sutton Police Department Facebook page below). Some people praised the driver’s actions and others questioned whether it was safe, particularly in an emergency. In the post, the police department explained that state law requires all vehicles to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, and that the vehicles cannot proceed until the flashing lights are deactivated.

"We cannot be everywhere at once when there are school buses on the road, though we wish we could," the police department stated in the post. "It's a frustrating fact that motorists have become increasingly distracted, and at times do no obey the law regarding stopping for a school bus." The police department added in the post that although the bus blocking both lanes in the road ensures that motorists cannot pass the stopped bus, "crossing the center line could be considered a marked lanes violation, and be cited as a verbal warning, written warning or a civil fine to the driver (which he/she would have a right of appeal like any other motorist cited.)"

Police Chief Dennis J. Towle told the newspaper that it was illegal for the bus driver to block the road. Lt. David Perry told Telegram & Gazette that he had contacted the bus company and that the driver had been spoken to. Towle, however, did note that motorists “need to pay attention to school buses and stop.”

More Safety

Kids need more from a driverless ride graphic comparing “Getting from A to B” vs “Student Transportation,” with a Waymo-style autonomous car image and School Bus Fleet logo.
SafetyFebruary 11, 2026

Autonomous Vehicles Aren’t Built for Student Transportation [Op-Ed]

Driverless cars may feel the future, but student transportation requires more than navigation. Here’s why it demands human judgment, empathy, and oversight.

Read More →
Graphic showing the front of a yellow school bus with cracked-glass overlay and headline reading “Fatal School Bus Hit & Run in New York,” dated February 5, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsFebruary 10, 2026

New York Girl Killed by School Bus Hit & Run

An 11-year-old in Brooklyn was killed crossing the street. Meanwhile, the school bus driver faces misdemeanor charges after he left the scene.

Read More →
2026 Disaster Response Guide Call for Experts is Open.
Safetyby StaffFebruary 9, 2026

Disaster Readiness Starts Before the Storm [Call for Experts]

The 2026 Disaster Response Guide is officially underway, and we’re now opening a Call for Insights and Experts.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School Transportation
SponsoredFebruary 9, 2026

How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps

Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.

Read More →
Fatal School Bus Accident in New York graphic dated Jan. 29, 2026, showing a close-up of a yellow school bus with cracked-glass overlay and School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby StaffFebruary 3, 2026

New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing

A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.

Read More →
A red, orange and yellow graphic with anti-pinch door sensor products and text reading "Maine's New Mandate: Anti-Pinch-Sensors & Bus Safety."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJanuary 29, 2026

Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate

As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredJanuary 29, 2026

8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations

What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.

Read More →
an illustration of a survey on a mobile phone with a hand on it, and the words Survey Says on it
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJanuary 28, 2026

Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses

A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.

Read More →
Image of an extended stop-arm with text reading "School Bus Safety: Funding Provides Bus Upgrades Across Ohio."
Safetyby StaffJanuary 27, 2026

State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio

$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A white Waymo vehicle waits at a crosswalk as a family crosses.
Safetyby StaffJanuary 26, 2026

Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation

After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.

Read More →