Why Use a School Bus Contractor
Professional School Bus Contractors, many small family owned businesses, provide school districts throughout Maryland with professionally trained and certified drivers, in well-maintained vehicles with reliable transportation services. School Bus Contractors and our drivers take pride in ensuring student safety, compliance with all regulations, and peace of mind for our families and school districts. A school bus driver is the first and last school contact most students engage with everyday. School Bus Contractors are dedicated to the safe and efficient transportation of Maryland's most precious cargo.
School Bus Facts and Safety Tips
School buses are among the safest vehicles on the road, but safety depends on everyone following rules — from drivers to passengers.
Key School Bus Facts
Safety record: School buses are the most regulated and safest mode of student transportation, with children about eight times more likely to arrive safely by bus than by car.
Pedestrian risk: Children are more at risk when approaching or leaving a bus, and illegal passing is a major cause of crashes.
Illegal passing: In 2000–2024, 63 fatalities occurred in crashes involving a driver illegally passing a stopped school bus, averaging 2.5 per year.
Safety Rules for Drivers
Stop for school buses: In all 50 states, it’s illegal to pass a school bus with the stop arm extended and red lights flashing.
Yellow lights: Indicate the bus is preparing to stop; slow down and prepare to stop. Look for students approaching the bus.
Red lights + stop arm: Bus has stopped; stop at least 20 feet away and wait until lights stop flashing, stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus moves.
Stay alert: Watch for children crossing, especially in school zones and at bus stops.
Safety Tips for Children and Parents
Arrive early: Get to the bus stop at least 5 minutes before arrival.
Stand safely: Wait at least 3 giant steps (about 10 feet) from the curb.
Cross safely: Always cross in front of the bus, not behind; make eye contact with the driver before crossing.
Boarding: Use handrails, get on/off one at a time, and wait for the driver’s “all clear”.
On the bus: Sit quietly, follow driver instructions, and avoid distractions.
Education: Teach children and parents these bus stop rules and the importance of obeying stop signs.
Bottom Line - School buses with their compartmentalized designs are statistically the safest way to get kids to school, but illegal passing and unsafe crossings remain serious risks. Following all stop rules and teaching children safe habits can greatly reduce these dangers.
National School Bus Safety Week
National School Bus Safety Week 2026 will be held from October 19–23, 2026, with a focus on promoting safety rules, awareness, and community responsibility for school bus safety.
Purpose and Significance
National School Bus Safety Week is an annual observance during the third full week of October designed to educate and remind the public about the importance of following school bus safety laws. It emphasizes that school buses are one of the safest modes of transportation, but accidents and fatalities still occur, often due to motorists illegally passing stopped buses.
Key Safety Messages
Stop for School Buses: Drivers must come to a complete stop when stop-arms are extended and red lights are flashing, regardless of approach direction.
Respect the “Danger Zone”: This is 10 feet in front, 10 feet behind, and 10 feet on either side of the bus where children are most at risk.
Pedestrian Safety: From 2015–2024, pedestrians were more likely than bus occupants to die in school-bus-related crashes; 63 fatalities in 2000–2024 were linked to illegal passing.
Rider Safety: Children should stand at least three giant steps away from the bus when waiting, and always watch for traffic.