Kansas currently does not  require seatbelts in school buses. New School Buses manufactured with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of under 10,000 pounds are required to be manufactured with seatbelts.

If a school district elects to equip a new school bus with seat belts the seat belts must be lap/shoulder belts. Lap belts shall not be installed on school buses except in conjuction with a child safety retraint system.

If a school bus is equipped with lap/shoulder belts, Kansas does not require them to be worn. This would need to be addressed in individual school district policy. 

PBS News Hour
May 17, 2017 - Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports that a record number of states are considering legislation to require seat belts and other safety upgrades, but for many school districts it may not necessarily pay to have students buckle up.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/seat-belts-school-buses-required/#disqus_thread

National Traffic Safety Board Video
November 27, 2016 - In this video, NTSB Dr. Kris Poland, a Biomechanics Engineer, highlights recent investigations, compartmentalization, and the enhanced safety benefit of lap/shoulder belts on school buses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksw67zFnuAE

Sixteen million shcool bus stop-arm violations occur nationwide each school year putting children in danger.  Doug S. Messer, former Manhattan-Ogden School Transportation Director, helped produce two Public Service Announcements regarding Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses which are linked below.  If you would like to utilize these on your local television network please contact:

Andrea Adams
Transportation Director
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383
1120 Hayes Drive
Manhattan, KS 66502

USD 383 Female Student PSA

USD 383 Male Student PSA

This video from the National Safety Coalition, a non-profit, grassroots traffic safety organization encouraging safe and responsible driving, emphasizes the importance of obeying the law when a school bus stop sign is extended and to educate drivers to ensure the safety of the 26 million children who ride buses to school every day.

All It Takes is One

Stop Arm Poster 11 x 17 (PDF) Poster with graphics indicating when vehicles are required to stop under  Kansas law for a school bus displaying an activated stop arm and flashing red lights.

Kansas School Bus Stop Arm Law Pamphlets (PDF)

4 page pamphlet
4 page pamphlet (printer version two)
4.25 x 11 inch pamphlet

These pamphlets contain basic information pertaining to Kansas School Bus Stop Arm  Law. The information in these 3 pamphlets is identical, however one is designed as a 4 page pamplet to be printed on an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper front and back with 2 variations depending on your printer. The second is also designed to be printed on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper (preferably card stock) front and back and then cut length wise in half for a finished card which is  4.25 x 11 inches.

School Bus Safety PowerPoint Presentation for Kids

Power Point Presentation

Safety pamphlet which contains facts, rules and a message to motorists.

Tri-fold School Bus Safety Pamphlet (PDF)

KSDE Color and Activity Book containing school bus safety information for kids. 

Color & Activity Book (PDF)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Safety Poster (PDF)

New campaign brings awareness to Kansas school bus stop arm law

More than 1,000 violations reported in 2019 one-day survey

TOPEKA — Stop on Red, Kids Ahead is a new campaign launched by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to bring awareness to the Kansas school bus stop arm law.

As Kansas schools gear up for the 2019-2020 school year, it is critical for drivers to be vigilant when school buses are in the vicinity and to obey the law, which requires all motorists to stop when approaching a stopped school bus from either direction when it’s displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Motorists have to remain stopped until the bus is no longer displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Violation of the law endangers children and is punishable by a fine and court costs in excess of $420.

The Stop on Red, Kids Ahead campaign includes news releases, social media reminders, posters for schools, safety flyers, informational handouts and bumper stickers.

In April 17, 2019, Kansas bus drivers reported 1,040 stop arm violations. The data was collected during the Kansas One-Day Stop Arm Violation Count. There were 220 districts and 3,300 buses that participated in this year’s Kansas survey. In April 2018, 214 districts and 3,347 buses participated and reported 1,030 violations. There were 691 violations reported by 188 districts (2,527 buses) in April 2017.

The surveys are conducted every year at the request of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, said Keith Dreiling, director of KSDE’s School Bus Safety Unit.

“School bus safety should be a top priority year-round,” Dreiling said. “It is the responsibility of everyone to make sure Kansas students remain safe. School buses remain very safe, but we know that student passengers are most vulnerable when they are outside the bus, so please obey the stop arm law.”

When a school bus stops and activates its stop arm and flashing red lights, all traffic must stop from both directions – despite if it is a two- or four-lane roadway. When a school bus stops and activates its stop arm and flashing red lights on a divided highway with a median separation, traffic approaching the bus from behind must stop.

For more information on the Kansas One-Day Stop Arm Violation Count, visit https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/School-Finance/School-Bus-Safety/School-Bus-Safety-Illegal-Passing-Information.

Remember, Stop on Red, Kids Ahead!

August 2019 Press Release Document PDF format

Social Media Promotional Kit: Document PDF format

Bumper Sticker: Bumper Sticker PDF format | Bumper Sticker JPEG format | Bumper Sticker PNG format
Note: The Kansas State Department of Education has approved the KSDE “STOP ON RED KIDS AHEAD” bumper sticker to be displayed on Kansas School and Activity Buses. Only one of these bumper stickers may be displayed on the rear of the bus.

Posters: 24" x 36" PDF format | 11" x17" PDF format

Web Icon: Web Icon PDF format | Web Icon PNG format

If you require a vector format please contact the School Bus Safety Unit