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COLUMBUS – As a new school year approaches, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is urging drivers to promote safety by sharing the road with school buses and following all traffic laws. The Patrol is also reminding school districts of the importance of staying up to date on school bus inspections.
“Every student in Ohio deserves a safe ride to and from school, and that safety is a responsibility all drivers share,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “As summer ends, and school buses get back out on the road, I encourage all drivers to stay alert, eliminate distractions, and follow the posted speed limit.”
According to OSHP statistics, there have been 7,179 traffic crashes involving school buses on Ohio’s roadways since 2021, six of which were fatal. Those six fatal crashes resulted in the deaths of six individuals, with one being a school-aged student.
It’s important for all drivers to familiarize themselves with the traffic laws relating to stopped school buses. Understanding these laws isn’t just about avoiding a ticket, it’s about protecting the lives of students getting on and off the bus. Some of those laws include:
- When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, all vehicles traveling in both directions must come to a complete stop at least 10 feet from the bus. This applies to two-lane roads and roads with a center turning lane.
- On roads with four or more lanes, or divided highways, only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus is required to stop. Oncoming traffic may proceed with caution.
- Motorists must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the bus driver signals that it is safe to proceed.
To keep approximately 800,000 Ohio students who use school transportation daily safe, the OSHP is tasked with ensuring school buses are functioning properly before leaving the garage. In 2025, the Patrol’s Licensing and Commercial Standards section conducted 39,488 school bus inspections.
“Our highest priority is the safety of Ohio’s children, which is why our inspection process begins long before they step foot in the classroom,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent.
While Ohio law requires that all school transportation undergo one vehicle inspection each year, the Patrol conducts a second inspection. Through these inspections, Patrol personnel were able to identify and resolve mechanical issues before they posed a risk to students or other drivers on the road.
The public is encouraged to safely call #677 to report reckless or impaired drivers and drug activity.
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