Full Notification

San Mateo, CA – October 20, 2025- During National School Bus Safety Week (October 20-24), the San Mateo Police Department is reminding drivers of the dangers of passing a stopped school bus. When a school bus stop-arm is out and the red lights are flashing, drivers must come to a complete stop.

While riding the bus is the safest way for children to get to and from school, an alarming number of drivers illegally pass school buses that have their red lights activated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2000 to 2023, there were 61 fatalities in crashes involving a driver illegally passing a stopped school bus. Almost half of those deaths (26) were people 18 years old or younger who were walking.

With few exceptions, California law requires drivers to stop in both directions when a school bus has flashing red lights on. Drivers must stop until the red lights are off, and children are on or off the bus and safely out of the road.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.