Drivers reminded of school bus traffic laws as students head back to class
Over the past five years, 22,502 motorists across Pennsylvania have been cited by police for school zone violations.
That number, provided by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, breaks down as 14,920 citations for speeding in school zones and 7,582 for illegally overtaking or passing a school bus.
From 2020-24 in Washington County, there were 97 citations handed out to drivers who did not stop for school buses with their lights activated. According to AOPC, 24 of those citations were issued last year.
In that same period, police wrote 210 citations for speeding in a school zone in Washington County, with 79 in 2024. In school zones, the speed limit is 15 mph.
Fayette County drivers had just five citations for school zone speeding in the past five years, and 31 for passing school buses. In Greene County, there were eight school bus related citations and 18 for speeding.
Canonsburg police Chief Alex Coghill said his department has officers posted at South Central Elementary School in the mornings and afternoons, and their presence helps keep drivers within the limit.
“We only have one (school zone), and we assign an officer down there to control speeding. Very periodically we write a citation for speeding. With the visibility of a crossing guard down there, that helps,” Coghill said.
Canonsburg police tend to get more complaints about drivers blowing past school buses picking up students.
Coghill said they will get complaints from parents, and then keep an eye on certain areas where it becomes a problem.
“We obviously can’t be at every school bus stop, there are just so many of them,” Coghill said.
Tom Kolencik, the public information officer for Uniontown police, said they tend to not have too many issues with speeding in their school zones.
Sometimes the department will get complaints about drivers passing school buses.
“The buses are usually really good about providing us with video. That kind of does the hard work for us,” Kolencik said.
Kolencik notes that there is not just an increase in vehicle traffic, but also foot traffic as many students walk to school.
He urges drivers to be mindful of the higher number of pedestrians as school goes back into session.
“Be a little more diligent, a little more careful,” Kolencik said.
State police will sometimes act as an “escort” for school buses and monitor for violations.
Rocco Gagliardi, public information officer for state police Troop B, said troopers will follow school buses if they have received complaints from the bus company, school district, or concerned citizens.
In some cases, however, troopers will follow a school bus during normal patrols.
“Sometimes if we’re just driving along and we see a school bus, you just get behind the school bus, and follow for as long as you see fit,” Gagliardi said.
As many school districts start preparing for students to be back in the classroom, Coghill says it can take drivers a bit of time to adjust from the summer months.
Both Coghill and Gagliardi compared to when winter turns into spring, and drivers have not been used to motorcycles being on the road.
“There is a little bit of an acclimation in public awareness,” Coghill said.