MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDNews) — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is urging drivers, parents and students to help keep children safe during National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 19-23.
Alabama recorded 589 school bus-related crashes and two deaths in 2025, according to University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety data provided to ALEA. So far in 2026, the state has recorded 411 school bus-related crashes and no deaths.
Of those statewide totals, ALEA troopers investigated 138 crashes in 2025 and 81 so far in 2026. The 2026 figures cover only part of the year. ALEA did not give a cutoff date for those totals.
The agency is joining the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in sharing safety reminders. Millions of children across the country ride school buses each school day. The buses remain one of the safest ways for students to travel, ALEA said.
The annual observance falls during the third full week of October. This year’s theme, “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes,” honors the people who help children get to school and back home safely. It also stresses safe driving, student awareness and the role of bus drivers.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Every child deserves a safe trip to school and back home, and that responsibility extends far beyond the school bus driver. It includes parents, students and motorists, making safety a priority. As we recognize National School Bus Safety Week, I encourage every driver to slow down, eliminate distractions and remain alert, especially in school zones and near bus stops. A few extra seconds of patience can make all the difference in protecting a child’s life.”
“School bus safety is not just a concern during one week of the year. It is a responsibility every time we get behind the wheel,” said Col. Jeremy Burkett, director of ALEA’s Department of Public Safety. “Our Troopers see firsthand how quickly a moment of inattention, or an unsafe decision can lead to devastating consequences. When you approach a school bus, slow down, pay attention and be prepared to stop. Never attempt to pass a school bus with its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. No destination or appointment is worth putting a child’s life at risk.”
ALEA shared these federal safety tips for parents and caregivers to review with children:
- Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before pickup.
- Wait in a safe place away from the road. Board only after the bus stops, the door opens and the driver signals that it is safe.
- Use the handrails when getting on or off. Do not rush.
- Never walk behind a bus. When crossing in front, stay at least 10 feet away, make eye contact with the driver and wait for the driver’s signal.
- Avoid distractions, including cellphones and headphones, when approaching or leaving the stop.
Drivers should pay extra attention during morning and afternoon bus routes. Slow down and prepare to stop when a bus flashes yellow lights. When its red lights flash and stop arm extends, stop as required and watch for children boarding, leaving or crossing the road. Stay stopped until the stop signal is withdrawn and it is safe to go.
On roads with fewer than four lanes, traffic in both directions must stop for a bus displaying its stop signal, ALEA said.
ALEA’s November 2024 driver manual also says drivers in both directions must stop on undivided roads with four to six lanes. On divided highways with four or more lanes, including at least two in each direction, drivers do not have to stop for a bus in the opposing roadway. Drivers behind the bus must stop.
The manual also describes an exception for a bus in a loading zone on or beside such a highway where pedestrians are not allowed to cross the road.
A first conviction for illegally passing a stopped school bus carries a $150 to $300 fine, ALEA said. Later convictions bring higher fines and added penalties.
