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Next year, Pennsylvania drivers will be required to stop 15 feet away from a school bus with its red lights flashing and side stop arm activated.
The increased distance is part of legislation that was signed into law recently by Gov. Josh Shapiro. The state will begin educating drivers on the new requirement in December, with the legislation to take effect in a year. The legislation also establishes enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, addressing a gap in current law that does not provide increased punishment for those with second or subsequent violations.
“Every child deserves to get to and from school safely, and motorists have a responsibility to stop when a school bus is loading or unloading students,” said Sen. Lisa Baker, sponsor of Act 89. “Act 89 is about changing driver behavior and holding repeat offenders accountable. We owe it to our children and their families to take this responsibility seriously.”
It's worth noting that too many drivers – including some in Warren County – still aren't great about following the state's laws regarding stopped school buses. PennDOT’s Automated School Bus Enforcement Program recorded 76,413 violations in 2024, compared with 24,085 in 2023. While expanded automated enforcement contributed to the increase in documented violations, the numbers demonstrate the ongoing challenge of ensuring motorists stop for school buses. The problem isn't as egregious here in Warren County, which reported 100 violations of school bus stop-arm laws in 2024, the most recent year statistics are available, imposing $30,642 in fines in 2024.
Of course, it's going to be difficult to police whether or not a driver is stopped 11 feet away from a stopped school bus rather than 15 feet, but the additional distance is a good guideline to follow either way. It's always a good idea to give stopped school buses as much room as possible. More importantly, there is no good reason to pass a school bus with flashing red lights in the first place. Those who do so repeatedly should face heightened penalties.