In celebration of National School Bus Safety Week kicking off today, please follow this link for an important message from RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece, pilot of the No. 60 car.  
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9fm9qb4rwuix7i2au2tjv/BlueBird_Final.mov?rlkey=i45owofxa7a24ixzpns3ixp3h&e=3&st=yly5me2s&dl=0

During National School Bus Safety Week, the Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation (OAPT) has joined forces with the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation, National School Transportation Association, Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, Blue Bird Corporation, and ROUSH CleanTech to send a powerful, unified message to drivers across the country: Stopping for a school bus is not optional—it’s the law. 

As part of a new awareness campaign, RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece—pilot of the No. 60 car—appears in a public service video emphasizing that even professional drivers stop for school buses. Preece highlights that protecting students on the road is everyone’s responsibility, no matter your driving experience.

This message is more important than ever in light of new data released by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). Their 13th Annual National Stop Arm Violation Survey shows that illegal passing of school buses continues to threaten student safety at alarming rates.

In just one day during the 2024–2025 school year, 114,239 bus drivers across 36 states and D.C. reported 67,258 vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses. When extrapolated nationwide, that equates to over 39.3 million violations per year—a slight improvement over last year’s 45.2 million, but still deeply concerning.

“Even with these corrected numbers, the illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be the greatest safety danger to children,” said Mike Stier, President of NASDPTS. “Regardless of the number, 39.3 million violations is simply too many.”

States are continuing to combat the issue through public education, stricter penalties, camera enforcement, and community campaigns—all crucial tools in improving road safety for students.

“Every time a driver illegally passes a stopped school bus, they put a child’s life at risk,” said Katrina Morris, Executive Director of the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation. “Stopping for a school bus takes only a few seconds, but it can prevent a lifetime of heartache. We urge all motorists to slow down, stay alert, and always stop when red lights are flashing.”

“We are committed to doing everything we can to keep Ohio’s students safe on their journey to and from school,” said Todd Silverthorn, Executive Director of the Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation (OAPT). “Illegal passing of school buses is not just a traffic violation—it’s a dangerous act that puts children’s lives at risk. We’re proud to join with our partners in Michigan and across the nation to amplify this message: when the red lights are flashing, there is no passing.