As kids head back to school, school buses head back to the streets.
School bus drivers across Washington state have documented cars illegally passing them almost 1,000 times a day, according to 2026 survey data from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.
The stakes of illegally passing a school bus can be high. Not only does it porentially endanger children coming on and off school buses, but it also may result in a $500 fine for the driver. According to Washington state law, this fine cannot be waived or reduced.
So here is a refresher on state law when driving near a stopped school bus with its stop sign up and red lights flashing:
•Two lanes: When a road has two lanes of traffic going in opposite directions, if there is no median, cars traveling in both directions must stop.
•Three or more lanes: When a road has three or more lanes, cars traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Cars traveling in the opposite direction as the bus should proceed with caution.
•Turning middle lane: When a road has a middle lane designated for turning, cars traveling in the same direction as the bus–even if they are in the turning lane–must stop. Cars traveling in the opposite direction as the bus should proceed with caution.
•Median: When a road has a median, cars traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Cars traveling in the opposite direction as the bus should proceed with caution.
Even after a school bus’s stop sign goes down and red lights stop flashing, it’s still a good idea to watch for children around the roadway.
For more information, please visit www.ospi.k12.wa.us or call 360-725-6000.
