School bus (Credit: LevittownNow.com)
Montgomery County ranked among the highest in Pennsylvania for drivers ticketed for illegally passing school buses and speeding through school zones over the last five years, according to newly released court data.
From 2020 through 2024, Montgomery County drivers received 1,059 citations for passing a stopped school bus, accounting for nearly 14 percent of the 7,582 statewide citations, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts reported, according to The Reading Eagle. Only Allegheny County had more violations, with 1,338 citations.
Delaware and Chester counties also ranked in the top five, each representing about 6 percent of the state’s violations during the same period. York County rounded out the top five.
Speeding in school zones
Montgomery County also topped the state in citations for speeding in school zones, per the report. Between 2020 and 2024, county drivers received 4,757 citations — nearly 32 percent of all school zone speeding tickets issued in Pennsylvania.
Bucks County followed with 1,333 citations, or about 9 percent of the statewide total. Delaware County placed fourth with 1,156 violations, representing nearly 8 percent.
State law limits the speed to 15 mph in an active school zone.
Regional breakdown
In the Reading area, Berks County accounted for 227 citations for passing a school bus during the five-year span, representing about 3 percent of the statewide total. The county also reported 468 speeding citations in school zones.
Chester County saw 454 bus-passing violations and 687 speeding tickets in school zones. Delaware County reported 448 bus violations and 1,156 school zone speeding citations.
Peak months for violations
Statewide, September and October accounted for the highest percentages of both types of citations, with 15 percent and 14 percent respectively, coinciding with the start of the school year.
State law reminders
Pennsylvania law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet before reaching a school bus when its red lights are flashing and stop-arm is extended. Failure to comply can result in fines, points on a driver’s license, and possible license suspension.
The newly released figures show that while rural counties often reported only a handful of violations, southeastern Pennsylvania counties consistently ranked among the highest for both bus-passing and school zone speeding offenses.
