Kingston motorists will be required to stop at least 15 feet from school buses displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm beginning in October 2027, under a new Pennsylvania law.
Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 65 on October 22, making it Act 89 of 2026. Sponsored by State Senator Lisa Baker, whose district includes Luzerne County, the legislation also strengthens penalties for repeat violations and expands school bus safety education.
The increased stopping distance and enhanced penalties do not take effect until October 2027. Until then, the existing minimum stopping distance of 10 feet remains in effect. The law’s education provisions begin in December 2026.
Drivers must stop when approaching a stopped school bus from behind or from the opposite direction, including at intersections, when its red lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended. An exception generally applies to opposing traffic separated from the bus by a physical barrier, such as a concrete median or guardrail.
Motorists must remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn and children have reached safety.
According to PennDOT, its automated school bus enforcement program recorded 76,413 violations in 2024, compared with 24,085 in 2023. The increase was attributed partly to expanded camera enforcement.
The law also assigns additional school bus safety education responsibilities to PennDOT and school districts. Baker said the legislation is intended to encourage safer driving and strengthen accountability for repeat violations.