2026 Annual Wisconsin Illegal Passing Survey
Wisconsin is participating in the National Stop Arm Violation Count the Week of May 4th.
Please plan to participate in this important survey that is used to influence legislation regarding safety around the school bus. The survey is a one-day snapshot of all drivers' illegal passes for the day. Pick a day that works best and conduct the survey.
Note: The survey must be done prior by May 24.
Since the advent of the survey, NASDPTS has seen state initiatives to improve motorist education about school bus stopping laws. There have also been changes in state legislatures to increase penalties, improve enforcement, and authorize the use of photo evidence to issue citations. The survey data has been instrumental in documenting a continuing need for greater safety countermeasures at the state and national level, including NHTSA's commitment to a targeted national safety campaign. We are requesting your assistance in this important survey.
On the planned day, please have your organization's school bus drivers observe and report any instances of motorists illegally passing their school buses, using the form below Even drivers who have no “pass-by’s” on the day of the survey should turn in the form so that we can get accurate data on how many pass-by’s occur per day per bus.
School bus drivers should use this DRIVER FORM. (Word) It may be modified as needed.
Please instruct drivers to pay particular attention to the instructions and safety precautions. As always, their primary duty is to the safety of their students. Please have your drivers pay particular attention to the bottom of the form where they are instructed to“report only illegal passes that occur while the bus driver is stopped with red warning lights flashing and stop arm(s) deployed in full compliance with our state training and procedures.”
Drivers would then submit their reports to the Transportation Manager/Supervisor after their routes.
Transportation Manager/Supervisor: Please compile the data using this SUMMARY SPREADSHEET (Excel) and then upload the totals to the NEW ONLINE SURVEY no later than May 29.
ADDITIONALLY - PLEASE SEND A COPY OF THE SUMMARY WORKSHEET TO
CHERIE HIME AT WSBA.
Thank you for participating in this very important survey.
Contact Cherie Hime, WSBA, with any questions. (608) 514.5470.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2025
Wisconsin Illegal School Bus Passing Sees Slight
Decrease to 35% in 2025
Thank you to the school districts and transportation companies that participated in this critical one-day survey. Wisconsin has seen a slight decrease in illegal school bus passing through the 2025 survey received by members this year. In 2024, the average rate was 38%, and with the new data received, the average decreased to 35%.​
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The continued disregard of the law to stop for a stopped school bus with red lights flashing is disheartening and increases the danger to children’s lives every school day. Of the 900 Wisconsin school bus driver reports this year, a total of 316 illegal passes were observed in one day, which shows that the average illegal passing rate is around 35%. Adjusting for 100% of Wisconsin licensed school bus drivers, the annual school year impact is at least 861,336 illegal passes in a 180-day school year. These occurrences happen both in the morning and afternoon routes with the majority of vehicles passing a stop sign as they approach the bus head on. There is no excuse for endangering children’s lives.
The annual school year impact in Wisconsin is at least 861,336 illegal passes!
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Pay Attention and for the Stopped School Bus with Red Lights Flashing
