COLUMBUS, Ohio — National School Bus Safety Week is underway and Ohio is buckling down on enforcing bus safety across the state.

Enforcement efforts focus on school bus violations, including passing a stopped school bus, school zone violations and other bus or school zone-related activity.

The safety week is supported by the National Association for Pupil Transportation and aims to remind motorists, bus drivers and students that they each play a role safety.

The 2022 theme is, "1 Bus + 1 Driver = a BIG Impact on Education," to remind drivers and students the dangers that exist outside the school buses. 

“School buses remain the safest mode of transportation for students,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “By focusing on school bus safety this week, we can re-emphasize the importance of how motorists, school bus drivers, and students can work together to ensure our students arrive safely to and from school each day.”

School buses display yellow warning lights prior to stopping, which indicates motorists need to slow down. When the bus fully stops, a stop sign and red flashing lights are displayed. Drivers approaching a stopped bus are required to stop 10 feet from the bus while students get onto or off of it. 

On four or more laned roads, traffic going the same direction as the bus must stop. Motorists may not resume driving until the bus begins traveling again.

“We are committed to protecting our students who ride school transportation,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones. “Although drivers are required to stop for school buses loading or unloading passengers, children should also check both ways and proceed with caution when crossing the roadway.”

Since 2017, there have been 6,434 crashes involving school buses in Ohio, injuring 2,076 people. Six fatal crashes took place during this, time killing six people. None of those killed were occupants of a school bus.