Drivers: Know the Laws About School Bus Safety

OLYMPIA—August 28, 2025—Across the state, students are preparing to return to their classrooms for another year of learning and school transportation teams are ensuring their buses are ready to safely transport students each day.

A survey recently released by The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) suggests drivers need reminding of the laws about school bus safety.

Since 2011, school bus drivers from across the country have participated in the NASDPTS one-day survey, which aims to determine how many motorists illegally pass stopped school buses. More than 114,000 school bus drivers participated in the 2025 survey, including over 3,000 in Washington state.

During the one-day survey, Washington school bus drivers documented 542 instances of drivers illegally passing a stopped school bus. Multiplied by the number of days in the school year, the survey results indicate that drivers are illegally passing a school bus in Washington state almost 100,000 times per year. Nationwide, drivers reported the total for the one-day survey was 67,258.

Data from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) shows that, on average, 340,000 of Washington’s K–12 students rode the bus each day during the 2024–25 school year, accounting for over 90 million miles traveled during that time. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzed school-transportation-related crash data from 2013–2022. The NHTSA reports that school bus crashes resulted in approximately 132,000 injuries and 976 fatalities nationwide during that period. 

In 2024, there were 387 collisions in Washington involving school buses, according to data from the Washington State Patrol. Of those collisions, 70% were the fault of the other drivers.

School bus drivers in Washington undergo a rigorous certification process. Prospective drivers must hold a Class A or B Commercial Driver's License with passenger and school bus endorsement. Qualified applicants must also complete a Driver Instructor Training Course and, once certified, complete annual in-service training.

Washington state law lays out the different scenarios for when motorists must stop for school buses. For instance, on a two-lane road, drivers traveling in both directions must stop when a “visual signal” such as flashing red lights or a retractable stop sign is in operation.

The graphic below shows when drivers must stop on three-lane roads and roads divided by a median. Motorists who fail to stop for a school bus when required face a $500 fine.

The Department of Licensing’s Drivers’ Guide includes guidance that cautions drivers to actively look for children along the side of the road even after the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop sign is no longer extended. 

As school buses across the state fill the roads, drivers should use caution and patience. When in doubt, stop!