A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, SAFER JOURNEYS AHEAD A Back-to-School Message from Sen. Philip Wheeler

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, SAFER JOURNEYS AHEAD

A Back-to-School Message from Sen. Philip Wheeler

As another school year begins across Kentucky, students are returning to the classroom ready to learn, grow and prepare for the future. For parents, teachers and families, it also means the return of familiar routines, school bus stops and busier roads. It is a timely reminder that keeping our children safe is a responsibility we all share.

Every day, thousands of Kentucky students rely on school buses to travel safely to and from school. As motorists, we have a responsibility to remain alert, exercise patience and recognize that a few extra moments behind the wheel are never more important than a child’s safety.

That is why the General Assembly strengthened Kentucky’s school bus safety laws through House Bill 7 during the 2026 Regular Session. Drivers are now required to stop whenever a school or church bus has its signal lights flashing and stop arm extended on most roadways, including highways and four lane roads with a center turning lane. Drivers traveling in both directions must stop unless the roadway is divided by an elevated barrier or an unpaved median. A painted center line or middle turning lane does not create an exception.

These updates reflect a common sense goal of providing greater protection for students as they board and exit the bus, particularly those who must cross the roadway. The law also authorizes school districts to use stop arm camera systems to identify motorists who illegally pass stopped buses and strengthens the penalties for those violations. While stronger enforcement is important, the best protection will always be drivers who stay focused, obey the law and make safety their priority.

The start of a new school year reminds us that public safety often depends on individual choices. Slowing down, putting distractions aside and remaining aware of our surroundings are simple steps that help protect students, bus drivers and families in communities across Kentucky.

To Kentucky’s teachers, school employees, bus drivers and parents, thank you for the role you play in helping our students succeed. I hope this school year is filled with learning, achievement and opportunity, and I encourage every Kentuckian to do their part to help ensure students arrive safely each day.

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Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, represents Kentucky’s 31st Senate District, including Elliott, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin, and Pike Counties. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committees on Economic Development and Workforce Investment and on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology. Wheler also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Judiciary; Natural Resources and Energy; and Transportation. Additionally, he is a member of the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee and is a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection.