Which Parts of Pennsylvania Have the Highest Rate of School Bus Safety Violations?

Did you know that more than one quarter of all traffic violations involving school buses and school zones occur in the first two months after the new school year starts? As drivers adjust to the influx of students and buses on the roads, more accidents and infractions happen. Each year, a cohort of organizations, including the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), and others, come together during the third week of October in sponsorship of National School Bus Safety Week. The weeklong annual safety campaign addresses potential dangers and promotes safe practices by encouraging public awareness, community support, educational resources, and much more. 

According to data from the Pennsylvania court system, September and October account for 15% and 14%, respectively, of citations like speeding in a school zone or failing to stop for a school bus. In the months that follow (excluding December, since most schools are closed for a week or more around the holidays), the rate of citations hovers steadily around 10%. While taking precautions on the road should always be a priority, it is especially important to remember to be careful and vigilant at the start of each new school year.

School Bus Safety Violations: Pennsylvania’s Most Dangerous Counties

A USA Today Network Pennsylvania analysis found that from 2020 to 2024, there was one county in the state that stood out more than the others. Why? Not for a good reason, but because it ranked first in the number of citations per 1,000 residents that occurred during the five-year period. In Jefferson County, which is in western-central PA, there were 8.9 citations (for either speeding in a school zone or meeting/overtaking a school bus) per every 1,000 people. Sadly, however, Jefferson County was not the only standout on the USA Today’s list. 

Here are some of the other top offenders for total citations in the Keystone State:

• Montgomery County, with 6.6 offenses per 1,000 residents.
• Venango County, with 4.4 offenses per 1,000.
• Beaver County, with 3.8 offenses.
• Bucks County, with 2.8 offenses per 1,000 residents.

The counties with the highest rate of offenses per 1,000 residents for speeding in a school zone were Jefferson County (8.2 offenses), Montgomery County (5.4), Venango County (4.2), Beaver County (2.9), and Northampton County, with 2.3. The rates of offenses for meeting and/or overtaking a school bus in the top five most dangerous counties were Butler County, with 1.39 offenses per 1,000 residents, Wyoming County (1.36), Montgomery County (1.2), Allegheny County (1.1), and Cameron County, with 0.9 offenses. 

School Bus Safety Tips for Everyone on the Road

Multiple school districts across the state are fighting to keep their students safe by taking steps like implementing technologies to reduce the number of school bus safety violations. In Philadelphia, for example, there are reports that schools are fighting to implement a speed camera pilot program. Districts, including North Penn in Montgomery County, Millcreek in Erie, and Allentown in Lehigh, use an AI-powered system called BusPatrol. This system utilizes AI, school bus cameras, cloud connectivity, and software to generate evidence packages for local law enforcement so that they can issue citations and, according to the company, promote a culture of accountability on the road. 

For kids and teens who ride the bus, the most dangerous time during their trip is immediately before and after getting on or off the vehicle. Here are some of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s tips that are important to review with anyone who rides the bus in your family: 

• Do not walk close to the front or sides of a bus, because the driver may not be able to see you.
• If you drop something near the bus, do not pick it up until you tell the bus driver.
• Before crossing the street, make sure to look left, right, and then left again.
• Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says that it is okay to board before stepping onto the bus.
• Do not speak to strangers at the bus stop and never accept a ride from a stranger. If someone offers you a ride or makes you uncomfortable, go straight home and tell a trusted adult.

Here are some of the Commonwealth’s bus safety tips for motorists:

• Yellow flashing lights on a bus indicate that the bus is coming to a stop for loading or unloading students. Slow down and be prepared to come to a full stop.
• Red flashing lights and a stop signal arm indicate a bus has stopped and that children are getting on or off the vehicle. You must stop your vehicle a minimum of ten feet before reaching the school bus. You legally may not proceed until the flashing red signal lights and stop signal arm are no longer activated.
• Obey all posted speed limits, especially in school zones where the fines and penalties for failing to obey the law are higher.
• Remember, you can be fined $250 for each violation when improperly meeting or overtaking a school bus. And that’s not all – a conviction will also result in a 60-day driver’s license suspension and five points on your driving record.

To ring in this year’s National School Bus Safety Week, we urge you to take a few moments to review these safety tips with your children and to brush up on how to remain responsible and vigilant behind the wheel. If you have a legal question or concern about a school bus-related injury that your child or teen sustained, someone at our firm can help. To learn more, contact a representative online now. 

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Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.