What鈥檚 the most dangerous part of the school day?
It鈥檚 when children board or get off of the school bus, according to transportation experts.
If drivers illegally pass a stopped bus that has its flashing lights on and stop arm out鈥攚hich happens an estimated 42 million times each year鈥攖hey risk hitting and seriously injuring or killing a child.
An average of about six students across the country each year were killed while attempting to board or get off of their school buses from 2012 to 2021, The number of injuries and near misses is believed to be much higher.
The biggest challenge officials say they face in combating illegal bus passings is that drivers often simply do not know the local laws, which vary from state to state.
So Education Week collected the traffic laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that address when motorists have to鈥攁nd don鈥檛 have to鈥攕top for school buses picking up and dropping off students.
Just in time for the return to school, below is an original, downloadable summary developed by Education Week for each state on some of the most common scenarios drivers encounter with school buses and what the law says about them.
