In August 2023, a man driving a minivan struck a school bus filled with students, ejecting and killing 11-year-old Aiden Clark in Springfield.
The driver was later sentenced to at least nine years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide. But state lawmakers want to do more to prevent future injuries and deaths.
The Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 3, 88-0, on June 11. The proposed law would increase penalties for drivers passing stopped school buses, allow schools to install cameras on buses to catch offenders and set aside $10 million in state lottery profits to pay for school bus safety upgrades.
Lawmakers in the Ohio House of Representatives approved changes to make school buses more safe.
“Every day, thousands of students in Ohio ride school buses, and too many are put at risk by drivers who illegally pass stopped buses,” said Rep. Cecil Thomas, D-North Avondale.
Ohio lawmakers won’t require safety belts on school buses − an issue hotly debated following the August 2023 crash. Some of the changes came from recommendations of the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, which Gov. Mike DeWine assembled to look into school bus safety.
But they will increase penalties for drivers who illegally pass school buses − a major issue identified when studying what would make school buses safer.
“That’s been the overriding goal from the beginning: Make it more safe,” said Rep. Bernard Willis, R-Springfield. He represents Northwestern Local Schools, whose students were injured in the August 2023 crash.
What’s the current penalty for violating Ohio school bus laws?
Current law requires drivers to stop at least 10 feet back from school buses with red flashing lights, loading or unloading students. The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 933 criminal violations of illegally passing a school bus − although, bus drivers say the actual number is much higher. However, fines are currently optional for drivers who illegally pass these buses.
What would fines be for passing a school bus under Ohio bill?
Under the proposed changes, drivers would face a mandatory fine of between $250 and $1,000 for a first offense. Repeat offenders within five years would pay between $350 and $2,000 and have their driver’s license suspended. Fines could be reduced if drivers took an educational course.
The bill would also allow school buses to install cameras to catch drivers who fly past school buses. The school bus driver’s eyewitness testimony would be required for a citation, not just the video footage alone.
If the bill becomes law, Ohio schools could apply for a $10 million grant program to buy cameras, safety belts, illuminated signs, lane departure warning systems and other safety features recommended by DeWine’s task force. Lawmakers initially proposed $50 million over two years, but that sum was reduced.
The proposed law also honors the Northwestern Local Schools students by designating August as “School Bus Safety Month.”
The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration. If both chambers approve of the changes, the proposed law would head to DeWine for his signature.
Dispatch reporter Bethany Bruner contributed to this article.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.
Do you think this plan does enough to make school buses safe in Ohio?
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio wants to crack down on drivers after fatal school bus accident