Three counties in southeastern Pennsylvania are among the top five highest percentages of citations from 2020 to 2024 for drivers passing a stopped school bus.
Montgomery County had about 14% of the 7,582 citations in the state during that five-year period, according to data released by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
Delaware and Chester counties each had about 6% of the total citations during that time.
State law requires drivers to stop at least 10 feet before reaching a school bus when its red signal lights are flashing and the side stop signal arms are activated.
In addition, Montgomery and Delaware counties were among the top five highest percentages of citations from 2020 to 2024 for drivers speeding in a school zone.
Montgomery County had about 32% of the 14,920 citations in the state during that period.
Delaware County had about 8% of the citations during that period.
State law sets the speed limit at 15 mph in a school zone.
According to the data, September and October had the highest percentage of school zone and bus citations at 15% and 14%, respectively.
The top five in the state for passing a stopped bus:
• Allegheny County: 1,338 citations, 17.65%
• Montgomery County: 1,059 citations, 13.97%
• Chester County: 454 citations, 5.99%
• Delaware County: 448 citations, 5.91%
• York County: 357 citations, 4.71%
Clinton and Forest counties had the fewest total citations with three each during the five-year period, representing 0.04% of the total citations.
A breakdown for counties in the region:
• Berks: 23 citations in 2020; 39 in 2021; 51 in 2022; 53 in 2023; 61 in 2024; 227 total, 2.99% of state citations.
• Chester: 50 citations in 2020; 75 in 2021; 118 in 2022; 92 in 2023; 119 in 2024; 454 total, 5.99%
• Delaware: 58 citations in 2020; 95 in 2021; 89 in 2022; 197 in 2023; 99 in 2024; 448 total, 5.91%
• Montgomery: 160 citations in 2020; 193 in 2021; 282 in 2022; 218 in 2023; 206 in 2024; 1,059 total, 13.97%
The top five in the state for speeding in a school zone:
• Montgomery: 4,757 citations, 31.88%
• Bucks: 1,333 citations, 8.93%
• Allegheny: 1,172 citations 7.86%
• Delaware: 1,156 citations, 7.75%
• Northampton: 738 citations, 4.95%
A breakdown for counties in the region:
• Berks: 37 citations in 2020; 90 in 2021; 68 in 2022; 109 in 2023; 164 in 2024; 468 total, 3.14% of state citations.
• Chester: 27 citations in 2020; 59 in 2021; 136 in 2022; 236 in 2023; 229 in 2024; 687 total, 4.6%
• Delaware: 71 citations in 2020; 248 in 2021; 342 in 2022; 227 in 2023; 268 in 2024; 1,156 total, 7.75%
• Montgomery: 742 citations in 2020; 933 in 2021; 791 in 2022; 1,047 in 2023; 1,244 in 2024; 4,757 total, 31.88%
No citations were issued in Wyoming County during the five-year period. Bradford, Columbia, Montour and Schuylkill counties each had one, representing 0.01% of the total citations.
