As students return to school, Harlan County Public Schools officials are urging all motorists to become familiar with an important change to Kentucky law designed to better protect children as they board and exit school buses.
Effective July 15, 2026, Kentucky's updated school bus safety law significantly expanded when drivers are required to stop for a school bus displaying its flashing red lights and extended stop arm. Under the new law, drivers traveling in both directions must stop on virtually all roadways unless the opposing lanes are separated by a physical barrier or an unpaved median. This includes two-lane roads, three-lane roads, roads with center turn lanes, and many four-lane highways.
Previously, many motorists only associated the stopping requirement with two-lane roadways. The revised law removes much of that confusion by requiring vehicles approaching from either direction to stop whenever a school bus is loading or unloading students, except on physically divided highways. The law also allows school districts to utilize stop-arm camera systems to help identify drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. Violators face increased penalties under the new law.
"Our school buses transport what is most precious to us—our children," said Harlan County Public Schools Superintendent Brett W. Johnson. "Every stop a school bus makes represents students who are trusting the adults around them to keep them safe. This new law strengthens those protections, but its success depends on every driver understanding the changes and choosing to stop. We ask everyone to slow down, stay alert, and remember that a few moments of patience can save a child's life."
The district reminds motorists that students can be unpredictable as they enter or exit a bus. Children may cross the roadway unexpectedly, and the large size of a school bus can limit visibility for both drivers and pedestrians.
Harlan County Public Schools Chief of Police Matt Cope emphasized that the law is intended to eliminate uncertainty for motorists while increasing safety for students.
"Every year, school bus drivers across Kentucky report dangerous incidents involving vehicles that illegally pass stopped buses," Cope said. "The updated law makes the expectations much clearer for drivers and gives law enforcement another tool to protect our students. We encourage everyone to learn the new requirements before school begins.”
Remember These Key Points
Stop whenever a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. The only exception for opposing traffic is when the roadway is divided by a raised physical barrier or an unpaved median.
Traffic traveling in both directions must stop on most Kentucky roadways.
Never proceed until the bus retracts its stop arm, the red lights stop flashing, and it is safe to do so.
School district officials say they appreciate the cooperation of motorists in helping ensure every student arrives safely at school and returns home each day. By working together and following Kentucky's updated school bus safety law, our community can make student transportation safer for everyone.
Cope will talk about the new law on Monday, August 3, at 8 a.m. on WTUK 105.1 FM in Harlan.