Bath County Schools bus drivers prepare for first day of classes as illegal bus-passing complaints continue

Bath County Schools bus drivers are preparing for a safer start to the school year, with attention on a problem that can put students at risk even before they get on a bus, according to coverage by LEX18 on Aug. 21, 2026. The report says some of the most dangerous moments of the school day occur along roadways where students are entering or leaving school buses and where motorists may attempt to pass buses stopped for pick-up and drop-off.

LEX18 reported that illegal bus passing remains a concern in Bath County, and that drivers are preparing for the first day with an emphasis on safe operation and heightened caution. While stopped for students, school buses are designed to make motorists slow down and stop when the bus indicates indicate that children are boarding or disembarking.

The LEX18 report described the timing and conditions that increase risk during the opening days of school, when traffic patterns shift and families begin using bus routes again. In that environment, drivers said they are anticipating unsafe behavior from motorists and are focused on maintaining orderly, predictable stops, consistent with school transportation safety expectations.

The story also framed the issue as an ongoing community safety matter, not a one-time event. LEX18 said reports continue about motorists passing school buses illegally, which can create hazards for students crossing roads and for surrounding vehicles maneuvering around a stopped bus.

In Kentucky, motorists are generally required to follow school bus safety procedures when a bus is stopped with its lights and stop indicates activated. The practical effect for families is that the safety of the school day depends on compliance by drivers in the moments when buses are stationary and children are most vulnerable.

As the school year begins, Bath County Schools and transportation staff are expected to keep emphasizing safe bus operations and route discipline, while the broader enforcement challenge remains tied to motorists who do not comply with school bus stop rules, as described in the LEX18 report.

The next step for the community is continued attention to bus safety during morning and afternoon runs, including reporting unsafe driving and reinforcing expectations for slowing down and stopping when school buses are indicating students on and off the vehicle.