School Bus Stops and School Zones Pose Uneven Risks Across America, New Study Finds

Delaware ranks highest for school transportation and school-zone risk, while national crash records reveal that children face substantial dangers outside school buses, particularly while crossing streets and navigating traffic near schools.

School transportation safety remains a significant concern across the United States, with new research revealing substantial differences in fatal crash risks between states and identifying pedestrian exposure as one of the most serious dangers facing children during their daily commutes.

A nationwide study conducted by the Millar Law Firm analyzed fatal crash records from 2015 through 2024 across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to determine where school transportation and school-zone traffic risks are most pronounced.

The findings place Delaware at the top of America’s School Transportation and School-Zone Risk Index, followed by Indiana. Georgia ranked 13th nationally, highlighting concerns about school transportation safety as the state implements new restrictions on automated speed enforcement near schools.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records show that 1,069 people died in 962 school-transportation-related crashes between 2015 and 2024. Although school buses remain among the safest forms of transportation for students, the findings indicate that significant dangers exist outside the vehicles, particularly for pedestrians crossing roads, waiting at bus stops, and traveling through school zones.

The research also highlights widespread traffic violations involving stopped school buses. During the 2025–26 academic year, an estimated 38.4 million illegal school bus passings occurred nationwide, exposing students to potential collisions during boarding and unloading.

Delaware and Indiana Lead National School Transportation Risk Rankings

Millar Law Firm’s analysis combined four measures of fatal crash involvement to evaluate school transportation and school-zone risks across the country.

The index considered school buses involved in fatal crashes, vehicles involved in fatal crashes where school-zone traffic controls were recorded, pedestrian involvement in fatal school-zone crashes, and pedalcyclist involvement in fatal school-zone crashes.

Each measure was adjusted for population, allowing comparisons between states with substantially different numbers of residents.

Delaware received the highest overall risk score of 100, driven primarily by its elevated population-adjusted pedestrian involvement rate.

Indiana ranked second, with particularly high rates of vehicles involved in fatal crashes associated with school-zone signs or traffic-control devices.

Georgia placed 13th among the 51 jurisdictions examined, receiving an overall risk score of 26.6.

States With Elevated School-Zone Crash Involvement Rates

The following states recorded some of the highest population-adjusted rates across two major components of the study.

State or Jurisdiction	Fatal Crash Risk Measure	Average Annual Rate per 1M Residents
Delaware	School-zone pedestrian involvement	1.310
District of Columbia	School-zone pedestrian involvement	0.580
Indiana	School-zone vehicle involvement	0.589
Kentucky	School-zone vehicle involvement	0.444
Alaska	School-zone vehicle involvement	0.410
California	School-zone pedestrian involvement	0.200
Georgia	School-zone pedestrian involvement	0.140

Rates represent average annual involvement in fatal crashes per 1 million residents during 2015–2024. Pedestrian and vehicle measures are separate index components and should not be interpreted as identical risks.

Indiana recorded 40 vehicle involvements in fatal crashes associated with school-zone signs or devices during the decade, the highest population-adjusted rate for that category.

Kentucky and Alaska followed, demonstrating that elevated school-zone crash involvement is not limited to densely populated states.

The findings also reveal substantial differences between individual risk categories. Arkansas ranked fourth for school-zone vehicle involvement but 42nd for pedestrian involvement. North Dakota ranked fifth for vehicles despite recording no pedestrian involvement in its fatal school-zone crashes.

These differences suggest that school-zone traffic safety challenges vary considerably between states, with some experiencing greater risks involving vehicles and others facing disproportionately high pedestrian exposure.

More Children Died as Pedestrians Than as School Bus Passengers

One of the study’s most significant findings concerns where children were located when fatal school-transportation-related crashes occurred.

Between 2015 and 2024, 204 children ages 18 and younger died in school-transportation-related crashes nationwide.

Of those fatalities, 77 involved pedestrians, compared with 39 children traveling inside school transportation vehicles.

Another 78 children died while occupying other vehicles.

School-Age Fatalities by Road User Category, 2015–2024

Road User Category	Fatalities	Share of Child Deaths
Occupants of other vehicles	78	38.2%
Pedestrians	77	37.7%
School transportation occupants	39	19.1%
Pedalcyclists	7	3.4%
Other nonoccupants	3	1.5%
Total	204	100%

Percentages are rounded.

The findings show that pedestrian fatalities were nearly twice as numerous as fatalities involving children riding inside school transportation vehicles.

Children between ages 5 and 10 accounted for more than half of the pedestrian fatalities, emphasizing the vulnerability of younger students navigating traffic around bus stops and school entrances.

The broader fatality figures reveal a similar pattern.

Among the 1,069 people of all ages killed in school-transportation-related crashes during the decade:

• 70% were occupants of vehicles other than school transportation vehicles.

• 15% were pedestrians.

• 11% were occupants of school transportation vehicles.

• The remaining fatalities involved other road-user categories.

These findings demonstrate that school transportation crashes affect considerably more than students riding buses. Motorists traveling near school buses, pedestrians crossing streets, and other vulnerable road users also face serious consequences when collisions occur.

Two-Thirds of Child Pedestrian Fatalities Occurred Away From Intersections

The location of fatal pedestrian crashes provides additional insight into the dangers children encounter during their school commutes.

According to the research, 66% of school-age pedestrian deaths in school-transportation-related crashes occurred outside intersections.

Another 27% occurred at intersections, while the remaining cases involved locations that could not be determined.

This distribution is particularly significant because school bus stops are frequently located along residential roads, rural highways, or neighborhood streets without designated pedestrian crossings.

Children may need to cross roads without traffic signals, sidewalks, or crossing guards, increasing their exposure to moving vehicles.

The study also identified substantial differences in pedestrian crash involvement across states.

California recorded 80 pedestrian involvements in fatal school-zone crashes during the decade, the highest total nationwide.

Pennsylvania and New York each recorded 45.

However, population adjustments changed the rankings considerably. Delaware led the country with an average annual rate of approximately 1.31 pedestrian involvements per 1 million residents, while California’s rate was approximately 0.20.

States With the Highest Reported Pedestrian Involvement Totals

State	Pedestrian Involvements in Fatal School-Zone Crashes, 2015–2024
California	80
Pennsylvania	45
New York	45
Georgia	15

The distinction between total crash involvement and population-adjusted rates illustrates why both measures are important.

Large states may record more incidents because they have more residents and greater traffic exposure, while smaller states can experience disproportionately high rates despite fewer crashes.

Illegal School Bus Passings Reach an Estimated 38.4 Million Annually

Driver behavior remains another major concern identified in the research.

A 2026 survey conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services found that 101,334 school bus drivers across 39 states and Washington, D.C., reported 56,024 illegal passings during a single school day.

After adjusting for nationwide participation, researchers estimated more than 213,800 illegal school bus passings on an average school day.

Across a standard 180-day academic year, that translates to approximately 38.4 million violations.

Although the latest estimate represents an improvement over previous years, the volume remains substantial.

Estimated Annual Illegal School Bus Passings

Academic Year	Estimated Violations
2023–24	45.2 million
2024–25	39.3 million
2025–26	38.4 million

Estimated Illegal School Bus Passings by Academic Year

National annual estimates, in millions

0M15M30M45M60M2023–242024–252025–26

The latest estimate represents a decrease of approximately 2.3% from the preceding academic year and roughly 15% from 2023–24.

However, one particularly concerning violation category increased.

During the 2026 survey, 3.45% of illegal passings occurred on the right side of school buses, the highest percentage recorded in the survey’s history.

Because students typically board and exit buses from the right side, these violations can place moving vehicles directly in the path of children entering or leaving the bus.

The survey also identified substantial differences in reported violations between participating states.

Alabama recorded approximately 5.3 illegal passings per reporting bus driver, compared with 2.0 in Arkansas and 1.4 in Arizona.

California and Colorado each reported approximately 1.2 violations per driver.

Differences in participation and reporting procedures mean these figures should be treated as survey observations rather than definitive statewide rankings.

Speeding Contributed to 47 School-Zone Fatalities During the Study Period

Beyond illegal bus passings, the study examined speeding-related fatalities within school zones.

Between 2015 and 2024, speeding was involved in 47 school-zone fatalities included in the analysis.

Indiana accounted for 10 of those fatalities, the highest number among states examined.

Texas followed with seven, while Florida recorded four.

States With the Most Speeding-Related School-Zone Fatalities

State	Fatalities, 2015–2024
Indiana	10
Texas	7
Florida	4
Alaska	3
Arkansas	3
Illinois	3
Kentucky	3

Indiana’s leading position in speeding-related school-zone fatalities reinforces its elevated ranking in the broader risk index.

The state ranked second overall and first for population-adjusted vehicle involvement in fatal crashes where school-zone traffic controls were recorded.

The findings underscore the importance of speed management near schools, where children may enter roadways unexpectedly and motorists must react within shorter distances.

School transportation vehicles were also involved in pedestrian fatalities.

Among the 77 school-age pedestrians killed in school-transportation-related crashes during the decade, 44 were struck by a school bus or another vehicle functioning as a school bus.

The research identified 13 pedestrian fatalities involving buses traveling straight, 10 involving buses starting in the roadway, seven during right turns, and eight during left turns.

These findings indicate that pedestrian protection requires attention not only to passing motorists but also to vehicle maneuvering, driver visibility, and bus stop placement.

Most Schools Have Designated Zones, but Fewer Than Half Have Crossing Guards

School infrastructure and traffic management measures vary significantly across the country.

According to National Center for Education Statistics findings included in the Millar Law Firm study, 83% of public schools reported having designated school zones immediately surrounding their campuses.

However, only 41% reported crossing guards on surrounding streets.

Other pedestrian and traffic safety measures were also unevenly distributed.

Traffic Safety Infrastructure at U.S. Public Schools

Safety Feature	Share of Public Schools
Designated school zone	83%
Sidewalks on at least some surrounding streets	79%
Crossing guards	41%
Traffic-calming features	35%
Bike lanes	19%

Crossing guard availability also differed substantially by school level and location.

Approximately 51% of elementary schools reported having crossing guards, compared with 19% of high and secondary schools.

Suburban schools reported crossing guard availability at approximately 50%, while rural schools reported only 21%.

These disparities are particularly relevant given the study’s finding that most school-age pedestrian deaths in school-transportation-related crashes occurred away from intersections.

The federal survey also found that 38% of school leaders moderately or strongly agreed that nearby traffic patterns threatened students’ physical safety during their commutes.

Taken together, the figures suggest that designated school zones alone do not guarantee comprehensive pedestrian protections.

Georgia Ranks 13th as New School-Zone Camera Rules Take Effect

Georgia emerged as an important state in the research because of its relatively elevated overall ranking and recent changes to automated traffic enforcement.

The state ranked 13th nationally, with a risk score of 26.6.

During the 2015–2024 study period, Georgia recorded:

• 39 school-bus vehicle involvements in fatal crashes.

• 15 pedestrian involvements in fatal school-zone crashes.

• 2 pedalcyclist involvements in fatal school-zone crashes.

• Approximately 0.14 pedestrian involvements per 1 million residents annually.

• Approximately 0.02 pedalcyclist involvements per 1 million residents annually.

Georgia’s tracked license-plate-reader density was approximately 69.8 cameras per 100K residents, compared with a national average of 37.2.

These figures represent general license-plate-reader cameras rather than a direct count of school-zone speed enforcement cameras.

The findings coincide with implementation of Georgia House Bill 651, which took effect July 1, 2026.

The legislation introduced new operational requirements for school-zone speed cameras, including clearer signage, accuracy testing, more detailed citation notices, and complaint investigation procedures.

It also limits camera operation to school days during instructional hours and the hour before and after classes.

Beginning in July 2027, local governments will generally need voter approval before entering or renewing school-zone speed camera agreements, with approved authorizations lasting six years.

A separate 2026 evaluation sponsored by the Georgia Department of Transportation found that speeding-related crashes were 35% lower at camera-equipped schools on the state highway system and 54% lower at off-system schools, compared with locations without the technology.

The evaluation also reported a 36% reduction in motorists traveling more than 10 mph above posted school-zone speed limits at camera-equipped locations.

Although the findings suggest potential safety benefits from automated enforcement, the broader debate also involves citation accuracy, enforcement transparency, and local oversight.

What the National School Transportation Risk Index Reveals

The Millar Law Firm study demonstrates that school transportation safety cannot be measured solely by the number of children injured or killed while riding school buses.

Its findings identify a wider network of risks involving pedestrian crossings, bus stops, school-zone traffic, and driver behavior.

Several findings stand out:

• Delaware ranked highest for overall measured school transportation and school-zone risk, while Indiana placed second.

• Pedestrian fatalities among school-age children were nearly twice as numerous as fatalities involving children riding in school transportation vehicles.

• Approximately two-thirds of school-age pedestrian fatalities in school-transportation-related crashes occurred away from intersections.

• An estimated 38.4 million illegal school bus passings occurred during the 2025–26 academic year.

• Fewer than half of public schools reported crossing guards on surrounding streets.

• Georgia ranked 13th nationally as the state introduced additional restrictions and oversight requirements for automated school-zone speed enforcement.

The index was constructed using NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System records from 2015 through 2024. Pedestrian involvement received the greatest weight at 35%, followed by school-bus vehicle involvement and school-zone vehicle involvement at 25% each. Pedalcyclist involvement accounted for the remaining 15%.

A limited modifier based on tracked license-plate-reader density could increase the base risk score by up to 10%. The final scores were rescaled so the highest-ranking jurisdiction received 100.

Because the index uses population-adjusted rates, smaller jurisdictions can experience substantial ranking changes from relatively few additional incidents. The results measure relative risk across the selected fatal-crash indicators, not an individual’s probability of being involved in a crash.

Ultimately, the research points to an important distinction in school transportation safety: protecting students during the bus ride addresses only part of their daily exposure to traffic.

The greater challenge extends to the surrounding streets, intersections, bus stops, and school zones where children interact directly with moving vehicles. As states evaluate enforcement policies and pedestrian infrastructure, the findings provide a data-driven picture of where those dangers have been most pronounced.