Get on Board with Safety: Toolkit Empowers Communities During National School Bus Safety Week

A girl with backpack walking towards school bus

National School Bus Safety Week is October 20 through 24, and Verra Mobility is once again providing a toolkit promoting safe school transportation to communities nationwide. The free resource includes social media posts, digital collateral, educational messaging, and statistics to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving behavior around school buses. 

Sharing these resources is critical. Passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended is against the law in every state, yet the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDTPS) estimated that there were more than 39 million illegal school bus passings last school year.   

Why is this so dangerous? School buses are the safest way for students to get to and from school, but a driver ignoring flashing lights and a stop arm puts those children at risk. 

At Verra Mobility, we believe we can all do better to protect our most vulnerable road users. That’s why we’ve created this toolkit, which aims to empower schools and organizations across the country.  

What’s included: 

• Social media posts: Posts include an educational infographic, tips for helping students get to and from school safely, and messages for promoting awareness of National School Bus Safety Week.  

• Written content: Educational messaging on the dangers of illegal school bus passing and how to get to and from school safely that can be shared on a website, in a newsletter, etc.  

• Video: Eye-catching visuals can make a lasting impact. By seeing actual violations, people are more likely to associate the illegal act with the dangers to children. 

Materials in the linked toolkit are Copyright 2025 Verra Mobility Corporation.  All rights reserved.  Schools, school boards, and non-profit organizations are licensed to copy, redistribute, reproduce, copy, and adapt materials in the toolkit for the sole purposes of safety messaging. 

Download the toolkit today and make a difference

School Bus Stop Arm Technology 

At Verra Mobility, we go beyond raising awareness; we prioritize making a lasting difference in communities. Our school bus stop arm program utilizes AI-powered cameras to automatically detect vehicles that illegally pass a stopped bus. This technology not only holds violators accountable but also changes driver behavior. 

Here’s how it works: 

• When a bus stops and extends its stop arm, the camera activates. 

• Any vehicle that illegally passes the bus is recorded on video, capturing the license plate and the extended stop arm. 

• Studies show this program is highly effective. Verra Mobility reports a 98% reduction in repeat violations, and some programs see a 70% decrease in citations issued over the course of a school year. 

The results speak for themselves, and community members are ready for change – a recent survey found that 96% of respondents are in favor of these programs. Let’s work together to make sure every child arrives at school safely. 

For more information on Verra Mobility’s school bus stop arm safety program, visit verramobility.com/government/school-bus-safety/.