Proposed Bill To Examine School Bus Passing Prevention Efforts Nationwide

U.S Representatives Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) recently introduced the Stop For School Buses Act. The bill directs the U.S Department of Transportation to conduct a review of existing laws and programs for all 50 states, recommend best practices, review driver education materials, and create a nationwide public safety campaign.

Stop For School Buses Act

Under the bill, the U.S. DOT would:

• Review existing public safety measures and programs to prevent illegal passing of school buses.
•  Compile illegal passing laws in all states, including levels of enforcement and penalties.
•    Issue recommendations on best practices for preventing illegal passing.
•    Evaluate the effectiveness of various technologies that may help prevent illegal passing incidents.
•    Review driver education materials in all states to determine whether more information about illegal passing should be provided to drivers.
•    Research connections between illegal passing of school buses and other safety issues.
•    Create and execute a public safety messaging campaign to promote safe driving when children are present and highlight the dangers of illegal passing.

According to the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), an average of nine to 15 children are killed each years while boarding or exiting their school buses by traffic. The organization also indicates that there are a total of 15 million illegal passing incidents each school year.