Wisconsin School Bus Drivers Have Seen a Large Increase in Illegal Passing

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 -- 10:01 AM

Wisconsin has seen a dramatic increase in illegal school bus passing.

In 2023, the average rate was 30%, but with the new 2024 survey that average rate has increased to 38%. The continued disregard of the law to stop for a stopped school bus with red lights flashing is disheartening and increases the danger to children’s lives every school day.

Of the 1,223 Wisconsin school bus driver reports this year, a total of 463 passes were observed in one day, giving an average illegal passing rate of 38%. Adjusting for 100% of Wisconsin licensed school bus drivers, the annual school year impact is at least 926,676 illegal passes in a 180-day school year.

These occurrences happen both in the morning and afternoon routes with the majority of vehicles passing a stop sign as they approach the bus head on. There is no excuse for endangering children’s lives.

The annual school year impact in Wisconsin is at least 926,676 illegal passes. The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) conducts this annual survey.

Their report for 2024 notes: "In 35 states, approximately 26.4% of the nation’s school bus drivers participated in the one-day survey. In the survey, 98,065 school bus drivers reported that 66,322 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day during the 2023-24 school year."

Adjusting for 100% of the school bus drivers in the U.S., we would have seen just over 251,000 illegal passings. Projected across a 180-day school year, these sample results point to more than 45.2 million violations per year among America’s motoring public.”

“..the results of this survey remind all motorists to pay attention to the yellow school bus, to follow the laws in their state, and stop to allow for the safe loading and unloading of each school bus.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation statistics, school bus transportation is the safest form of transportation over all other modes. Children are 70 times safer going to and from school in a yellow school bus than by walking, biking, being driven by parents in cars, or teens driving themselves.

The stopped yellow school bus that has its red lights flashing means that a child is going to be boarding or departing the bus. WSBA urges motorists to be aware of these situations and STOP for the stopped school bus to avoid a potential tragedy we hope no one experiences.

WSBA is requesting School Districts to have conversations with students on the dangers outside the bus and remind them to always pay attention to the traffic around the bus. WSBA has created school bus safety videos available on the website and YouTube channel.

Please share these videos and spread the word about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus! WSBA will continue to work with law enforcement and communities to reduce the threat of safety these numbers pose to Wisconsin’s school children and advocate for changes in the law that bring awareness to inattentive driving.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.