Think you know when to stop for a school bus? As of July 15, you’re probably wrong. Kentucky’s new school bus safety law is already in effect, and with kids heading back to class across the commonwealth in the coming weeks, police are warning drivers: the rules just changed in a big way — and the fines are no joke.
What Kentucky’s New School Bus Law Requires
Under House Bill 7, drivers approaching from either direction on virtually any road must come to a complete stop when a school bus — or a church bus — has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. You stay stopped until the bus finishes loading or unloading and starts moving again.
The big change: under the old law, drivers on highways with four or more lanes didn’t have to stop when traveling in the opposite direction. That exception is now dramatically narrower.
The Only Exception
You do NOT have to stop only if you’re traveling in the opposite direction on a road with four or more lanes that is separated by an elevated barrier or an unpaved median. A paved center turn lane does not count — on a four-lane road with a center turn lane, all traffic in both directions must stop. If there’s no physical barrier or grass median between you and the bus, you stop. Period.
Church Buses Are Covered Too
This is the detail a lot of drivers around here will want to note: the law explicitly applies to church buses, not just school buses. In communities like ours across South Central Kentucky, church buses run on weekends and throughout the week for events — meaning this law applies seven days a week, not just school mornings.
Fines and Camera Enforcement
Penalties for illegally passing a stopped bus vary by jurisdiction but are steep everywhere — reported fines range from roughly $200 to $500 for a first offense, with repeat violations within three years climbing to $1,000. HB 7 also lets school districts install cameras on bus stop arms, and here’s the kicker: if a camera catches a vehicle illegally passing and the driver can’t be identified, the law presumes the registered owner was behind the wheel and holds them responsible unless they can prove otherwise. In one central Kentucky city alone, bus cameras recorded around 50 illegal passes last year — so enforcement is coming.
Our take: a few seconds of waiting versus a child’s life isn’t a trade-off, it’s a no-brainer. With back-to-school season days away, share this with every driver in your family — especially new drivers who learned the old rules.
Stay Informed Before School Starts
TEG Report covers the Kentucky laws and local changes that actually affect your daily life. Get updates free in the TEG Report newsletter, and if you spot a dangerous bus stop or traffic issue in your community, send us a tip. Share this article on Facebook via TEG Exchange — it might save a life on the first day of school.