Bowling Green, Kentucky, September 8, 2025
News Summary
As the school year commences, law enforcement in Bowling Green is focusing on school bus safety amidst concerns over distracted driving. The Bowling Green Police Department stresses the importance of stopping for school buses with extended stop arms. Traffic violations are reaching concerning levels. In Warren County, bus drivers are now empowered to report violators. Simultaneously, legislation in Ohio is set to increase penalties for violations related to school bus safety, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures as recent incidents raise alarm about child safety on the roads.
Bowling Green, Ky. – With the start of the school year, law enforcement agencies in Bowling Green, Kentucky, are prioritizing school bus safety amid rising concerns about distracted driving. The Bowling Green Police Department has emphasized the legal obligation for drivers to stop when a school bus’s stop arm is extended, a rule that aims to protect children as they board and disembark from school buses.
Ronnie Ward, a public information officer for the Bowling Green Police Department, has reiterated the critical nature of adherence to this law. According to Cedric Browning, the Director of Transportation for the Bowling Green Independent School District, traffic violations related to stopping for school buses are estimated to number in the “teens” each month. The most prevalent reasons drivers fail to stop are inattentiveness and confusion regarding the existing laws.
As part of their safety outreach, the police department has recommended several tips for drivers. These include avoiding distractions, such as using mobile phones while driving. In addition, parents are urged to educate their children about safe practices when approaching and leaving the bus, which includes being vigilant of their surroundings.
In Warren County, bus drivers are empowered to report traffic violations. They can collect vehicle license plate numbers and relay this information to the police to ensure accountability among drivers. Lawmakers in Kentucky are currently working on Senate Bill 38, which proposes to permit the installation of camera monitoring systems on school buses to enforce stopping laws more sternly.
In a parallel effort, the Ohio House has advanced a bipartisan initiative known as the School Bus Safety Act (Ohio House Bill 3) aimed at enhancing the safety of school buses. This bill proposes higher penalties for drivers who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus, introducing fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 and potentially suspending licenses for repeated offenses. In contrast, the current fines in Ohio for such violations span from $0 to $500.
Supporting this initiative, evidence from the Ohio Department of Public Safety has shown that over 14,000 citations have been issued for illegally passing stopped school buses in the past four years, highlighting a critical public safety issue. Ohio lawmakers have underscored the importance of this legislation in safeguarding children, particularly in light of various dangerous incidents reported recently.
Although the bill is set to bolster penalties and incorporate surveillance cameras in school buses, it notably does not mandate seat belts for larger school buses weighing over 10,000 pounds. A working group led by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recommended a total of 17 measures for improving school bus safety; however, mandatory seat belts were not included in these proposals. Between 2013 and 2022, there were a total of 976 fatal crashes involving school transportation, resulting in 1,082 fatalities, underscoring the urgency of such legislative actions.
In Ohio, Senator Theresa Gavarone has introduced a comparable bill (Senate Bill 62) to enhance penalties for passing school buses unlawfully. Additionally, the proposed Ohio legislation intends to establish a grant fund dedicated to implementing safety features on school buses. This fund would be financed through criminal fines and state revenues, providing additional resources for enhancing school bus safety.
Recent tragic events, including a 2023 bus incident that claimed the life of an 11-year-old student and left multiple others injured, have intensified the pressure for improved safety measures. In response, Governor DeWine has advocated for increasing bus driver training hours from four to six and has suggested a budget allocation of $34 million for enhancing school bus safety features in the forthcoming budget.
FAQ
What is Senate Bill 38 in Kentucky?
Senate Bill 38 proposes to install camera monitoring systems on school buses to better enforce stopping laws for drivers when the bus’s stop arm is extended.
What does Ohio House Bill 3 entail?
Ohio House Bill 3, known as the School Bus Safety Act, increases penalties for illegally passing stopped school buses and allows the use of cameras on these buses to document violations.
How many citations have been issued for illegally passing a stopped school bus in Ohio?
Over 14,000 citations for illegally passing stopped school buses have been issued in Ohio over the past four years.
What safety measures are being proposed in response to school transportation-related fatalities?
In response to school transportation-related fatalities, proposals include increased bus driver training hours and significant budget allocations for enhancing school bus safety features.
Chart: Key Features of School Bus Safety Legislation
| Feature | Kentucky Senate Bill 38 | Ohio House Bill 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Monitoring | Proposed | Authorized |
| Penalties for Violations | Increased fines under consideration | $250 to $1,000, license suspension for repeated offenses |
| Driver Reporting | Empowers drivers to report | Similar provisions |
| Seat Belt Requirement | Not addressed | Not required for larger buses |
| Driver Training | Proposed increase from 4 to 6 hours | No specific changes proposed |
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Additional Resources
- WBKO: Officials Stress Importance of School Bus Safety
- Wikipedia: School Bus Safety
- Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio House Passes Bill for School Bus Safety
- Google Search: School Bus Safety
- Beech Tree News: School Systems Begin Back Week
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Bus
- The Dispatch: Ohio Officials Consider Grants and Increased Fines for School Bus Safety
- Google News: School Bus Legislation
Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER
The BOWLING GREEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBowlingGreen.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Bowling Green, Warren County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Corvette Homecoming, International Festival, concerts at SKyPAC, and sports events at Beech Bend Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the African American Museum Bowling Green Area, plus leading businesses in automotive, apparel, and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, Fruit of the Loom, and Med Center Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELexingtonKY.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
