Tipp of the Week-Back to school bus safety

Hello, Tipp City! Marc the Cop here, 

It is that time of year. With the children going back to school, our neighborhoods will see those school buses out picking up the children to get them to school.

Time to talk about what to do when we encounter a school bus with the red lights flashing, while picking up our kids, and an overview of school bus safety in Ohio, covering regulatory requirements, driver training, safety features, compliance, and recent legislative developments:

Regulatory Safety Education for Students:

As of July 1, 2025, Ohio law mandates that at the beginning of each school year, districts must offer safety orientation for students and families—including bus tours, materials, and driver introductions. Additionally, all students in K–3 must receive safety instruction within the first two weeks of school; this includes safe walking practices, waiting at stops, boarding and exiting procedures, and road crossing. Students in grades 4–12 also receive targeted safety education, while non-routine trips require specific safety orientation at the trip’s onset.

Driver Training & Professional Development:

Ohio is advancing driver safety through enhanced training initiatives. By July 1, 2026, school bus and van drivers must complete six hours of annual in-service training, up from the previous requirement of four hours. The curriculum will be standardized and accredited by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW), with online options permitted. Additionally, Ohio hosts School Bus Driver Safety Road-e-o competitions, where successful participants can fulfill certification requirements—regional competitions begin October 2025, with winners progressing to national events.

Safety Audits & Commercial Vendor Oversight:

A key safety recommendation emphasizes conducting annual safety audits of routes, stops, and pick-up/drop-off sites using tailored checklists to address local risks. The state also urges districts to thoroughly vet contracted commercial bus services to ensure safety standards are met.

Vehicle Safety Upgrades & New Funding:

Following a fatal 2023 Clark County bus crash, a state working group issued 17 safety-focused recommendations, including enhanced driver support, safety technology, emergency response improvements, and public awareness campaigns. Lawmakers responded with grant provisions—amounting to $25–30 million—to equip buses with safety enhancements: external cameras, collision avoidance systems, LED lights, crossing arms, lighted mirrors, fully illuminated stop signs, and more.

In Ohio (and most states), the rule is apparent:

You must stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and the stop arm extended.

This applies whether you are behind the bus or approaching it from the opposite direction on an undivided road.

When You MUST Stop: Two-lane roads (undivided): All traffic in both directions must stop. Multi-lane roads without a physical median: All lanes of traffic in both directions must stop.

When You DO NOT Stop? Divided highways or roads with a physical barrier/median: Only traffic going in the same direction as the bus must stop. Traffic in the opposite direction may proceed with caution.

When You May Go Again: You must remain stopped until:

The red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is retracted, and the bus begins moving again.

Passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights is a serious traffic violation.

Offenders may also face a license suspension and mandatory driver safety courses.

Recent legislation, including the “lane and lights” law, significantly increases penalties for motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses—fines now range from $250 up to $1,000, and $2,000 for repeat offenses; offenders may also face license suspension and mandatory safety courses. Additionally, Ohio State Highway Patrol issued 735 citations in 2023 alone for such violations—well above the annual average of 627—underscoring enhanced enforcement efforts.

A good rule of thumb: If in doubt, stop. Children can move unpredictably, and stopping ensures their safety.

Remember the 9 PM routine! The 9 PM routine is a nightly reminder for residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicle doors, secure their residences, turn on exterior lights, and activate all alarms and security systems. 

That is all for this week! Please be safe and care for one another. 

I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)

Do you have a suggestion for the Tip of the Week? Your input is valuable to us. You can email me at Marcthecop@tippgazette.com!

The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author, who is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.