S.T.O.P. (Stop the Operator from Passing) is a Massachusetts school bus safety initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the alarming number of illegal school bus passing violations that put children's lives in danger.
Between September 2022 and January 2025, S.T.O.P. spearheaded a powerful movement to improve student safety, earning the support of local leaders, state lawmakers, the media, and influential safety advocates.
This tireless advocacy culminated in a major legislative victory: the passing of an Emergency Preamble to the state's existing school bus passing law. Under H.4940, local police are now permitted to use video evidence from school bus stop-arm cameras to issue citations, providing a critical tool to hold reckless drivers accountable and ultimately change driver behavior.
S.T.O.P’s mission is to empower communities to enhance safety protections for students at bus stops through
awareness, education, and engagement.
Why It Matters
Every day, millions of children rely on school buses to get to and from school safely. While school buses are among the safest forms of transportation, the greatest danger often occurs when students are crossing streets or entering and exiting the bus. Drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses create a potentially deadly situation in a matter of seconds. National estimates suggest tens of millions of illegal school bus passing incidents occur each school year across the United States. (NHTSA)
S.T.O.P. supports communities by:
- Building on current / creating new safety initiatives
- Driving community engagement
- Leveraging existing networks and resources
- Mobilizing key stakeholders