Texas law prohibits vehicles from passing any school bus that is stopped and has its flashing red lights activated to protect children getting onto and off of a school bus. However, some motorists still break the law and place schoolchildren at risk of injury or death.

During National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 17-21), Texas Highway Patrol Troopers in many rural areas of the state may be riding on or following school buses to catch motorists who break the law.

When a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus with the red lights activated, Troopers riding on the bus will radio ahead to other Troopers who will then pull over the offending motorist and issue a ticket that could cost up to $1,000. Troopers will also be patrolling areas where school buses pick up and drop off children, looking for motorists violating the school bus law.

“The safety of children riding on school buses is important, and we will do everything we can to ensure that Texas drivers obey the law,” said Steven C. McCraw, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. “Drivers will receive tickets if they do not stop for school buses as required.”

In 2010, Texas Highway Patrol troopers wrote 414 tickets for passing a stopped school bus. There were 762 crashes in Texas involving school buses last year. In those crashes, one person died and 89 people had serious injuries, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, which tracks traffic crashes.