School bus safety zone legislation signed into law

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder approves a bill that doubles fines for moving violations committed in a school bus safety zone and makes killing a child getting off a school bus a 15-year felony. A second bill approved by Snyder adds the new felony offense to the state's sentencing guidelines.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

June 20, 2011

1 min to read

LANSING, Mich. — Last week, Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law two pieces of legislation targeting motorists who fail to exercise caution in school bus safety zones.

House Bill 4168, sponsored by state Rep. Margaret O'Brien, doubles fines for moving violations committed in a school bus safety zone. The bill also makes it a one-year misdemeanor for injuring and a 15-year felony for killing a child getting on or off a school bus. The law will take effect July 1.

House Bill 4167, sponsored by state Rep. Tom McMillin, adds the new felony offense to Michigan's sentencing guidelines. The law will also take effect July 1.

With these changes, moving violations committed in school bus safety zones will be treated similar to violations committed in work zones.

"This legislation sends a clear signal that it's not OK for drivers to disregard school bus safety zones," Snyder said. "Drivers need to take bus stop lights seriously."

Topics:school site safety 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.