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National School Bus Safety Week (October 20-24, 2025)

With National School Bus Safety Week approaching (October 20–24, 2025), it's an opportune moment to reiterate the importance of obeying traffic laws designed to protect our children. Drivers must recognize that passing a stopped school bus is not only illegal but can lead to devastating consequences for young lives. In this blog post, we will explore the risks associated with illegal school bus passing, the “Danger Zone” surrounding school buses, and how a few simple habits can make our roads safer for everyone. Let’s dive into why prioritizing safety on our roads is essential for our communities, especially as children navigate their way to and from school.

In this issue:

Have You and Your Employees "Bought" into Safety
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 14-20th, 2025.
Registration is open online for the 2025 Idealease/NPTC Fall Safety Seminar!

Read, share, and/or print this week's Safety Bulletin.
Check out past Idealease Safety Bulletins.

Encouraging Drivers to Avoid Illegal School Bus Passing

Just last week in my state, a car collided with a school bus, causing it to tip on its side. Thankfully, there were only three minor injuries. With schools back in session, it's a crucial time to remind drivers to exercise extreme caution around buses.

National School Bus Safety Week is scheduled for October 20–24, 2025. The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urges drivers to slow down and stay alert when driving near school buses in their communities. Although school buses are among the safest transportation options, injuries and fatalities can still happen near them. Most often, these incidents result from motorists neglecting to slow down, failing to obey the bus's stop sign, or disregarding local traffic regulations.

Passing a stopped school bus is illegal across the country and presents a danger to children boarding or disembarking from the bus. Drivers must always come to a complete stop when the bus's stop arm is extended and its red lights are flashing.

From 2014 to 2023, there were 1.5 times more fatalities among pedestrians (169) compared to school bus occupants (111) in related crashes. A total of 111 children aged 18 and under lost their lives in school-bus-related incidents during this period, whether as bus occupants, passengers in other vehicles, or as pedestrians or cyclists, with 25 of those fatalities involving children who were walking.

From 2000 to 2022, 55 fatalities occurred due to drivers illegally passing stopped school buses. Almost half of those victims (25) were pedestrians aged 18 or younger.

When the red lights on a school bus are flashing and the stop arm is extended, drivers are legally required to slow down and come to a complete stop. This is not merely a suggestion; it is the law. The yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to pick up or drop off children, prompting drivers to reduce their speed and prepare to stop. Motorists may only continue once the red lights are off, the stop arm is retracted, and the bus is in motion.

School bus riders and their caretakers depend on drivers to respect the law and prioritize their safety.

Respect the "Danger Zone"

The area where the school bus loads and unloads is referred to as the "Danger Zone." This term applies to any side of the bus that is out of the driver's line of sight, making it the most hazardous for children. These zones encompass:

10 feet in front of the bus, where the driver may be sitting too high to see a child
10 feet on either side of the bus, where a child may be in the driver's blind spots
Directly behind the school bus

For more information about school bus stop safety, please visit: NHTSA School Bus Safety.

Have You and Your Employees "Bought" Into Safety?

Some time ago, after a driver safety meeting, a driver came up to me and said he was already well-versed in safe driving. He mentioned he had never been in an accident and knew how to handle any situation, questioning why I was so focused on "selling" him on safety every chance I had.

I told him that the most crucial "sale" I could ever make was about his life and safety. You might not feel like "buying" into safety today, but it may be too late tomorrow, next week, or next year. By embracing safety, your actions cannot only protect you but also save the lives of others.

This is what it will cost you to "buy" into safety:

Two seconds to fasten your seat belt
Ten minutes for a thorough pre-trip inspection
Ten seconds to make sure your mirrors are properly adjusted
Two seconds to shut off your cell phone before operating a motor vehicle
Eight hours to get proper rest
Thirty seconds to clean trash from your vehicle at the end of your trip or route
A fraction of a second to flip on your turn signal
Two minutes to walk around your vehicle while fueling or stopping to make sure it is in safe order
Extra time to account for adverse weather conditions
Slowing down in poor weather conditions, such as fog, rain, snow, or ice
Increasing your following distance
Expecting the unexpected

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week: September 14–20, 2025

Every part of our daily lives relies on the essential work of truck drivers who deliver the goods and resources we depend on. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is a significant occasion for the nation to recognize and thank the professional truck drivers for their dedication and hard work in one of the most challenging and crucial jobs in our economy. With 3.5 million professional drivers on the road, they not only ensure that our goods arrive safely and on time but also contribute to the safety of our highways.

In both the United States and Canada, many people have shown their gratitude for the vital role that truck drivers play. From children distributing lunches to heartfelt "I ♥ Truck" signs posted along roadways, the community is increasingly acknowledging the essential contributions of these drivers to our everyday lives.

This week in September serves as a small yet meaningful opportunity to express our appreciation for the 3.5 million dedicated professionals who deliver our goods safely and reliably, while also ensuring the safety of our roads. Take some time now to plan a special gesture for your truck drivers during this recognition week.

Registration is now open for the 2025 Idealease/NPTC Fall Safety Seminars!

Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC will again be hosting safety seminars in the spring and fall of 2025. The one-day seminar this year will focus on basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides important information applicable for both the novice and experienced transportation professionals.

Upcoming Fall Seminars:

9/16/2025 - Weirton, WV
9/30/2025 - Knoxville, TN
10/7/2025 - Orlando, FL
10/14/2025 - Atlanta, GA
10/16/2025 - Nashville, TN
10/21/2025 - Los Angeles, CA
10/23/2025 - Linthicum, MD

To register for an upcoming fall seminar in 2025, click on the following link:
Safety Seminar Registration

*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards