West Chester, Pa (August 20, 2025) – With the back-to-school season upon us, state Senator Carolyn Comitta is reminding motorists to follow Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law and to slow down to 15 mph in school zones.
Last year, 454 citations were issued for drivers passing stopped school buses in Chester County – the third highest in the Commonwealth, according to data released from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. In addition, 687 citations were issued for drivers speeding in a school zone in Chester County.
“With students returning to class, there will be more school buses on the road, more children at bus stops, and an increase in traffic, especially around schools and residential neighborhoods,” said Comitta, a former public-school teacher and member of the Senate Education Committee. “Please stay focused, put down the cell phone, slow down in school zones, and be sure to stop when you see a school bus with red lights flashing and stop arms extended.”
The fall season appears to be a particularly dangerous time for such infractions, with September and October recording the highest percentage (about 15%) of school zone and bus citations.
Under Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law:
- Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arms extended.
- Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, overtaking a bus, meeting a bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
- Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
- If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails, or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
- Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.
- The penalties for violating the School Bus Stopping Law can be significant, including a 60-day driver’s license suspension, five points on your driving record, and a $250 fine.
Motorists are also reminded to slow down to the posted speed limit of 15 mph in school zones, which are particularly busy in the morning and afternoon hours during student arrival and dismissal.
Comitta also noted that earlier this summer, a new state law took effect prohibiting using a handheld device while driving. Under the new law, which is a primary offense, drivers cannot talk on a handheld phone, text, record video, take pictures, play games, send emails, or use social media. Hands-free options like Bluetooth or CarPlay are permitted.
About than 30,000 buses transported nearly 1.5 million children about 400,000 miles on Pennsylvania roads last year, according to PennDOT.
For more safety tips, visit penndot.pa.gov
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