Office of School Bus Safety
Advancing the Safety of Student Transportation in New Jersey聽
The Office of School Bus Safety is committed to advancing the safety of student transportation in New Jersey through dedicated educational, compliance, and enforcement efforts. Our mission is to safeguard every student's journey, upholding the highest standards of safety in school transportation services.
Promoting Safety Through Education, Compliance, and Enforcement
“The safest way to transport children to and from school is by school bus. In fact, students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus instead of traveling by car.” (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA)
The most dangerous aspect of school buses is loading and unloading. Unfortunately, some motorists fail to follow the rules by driving around the school bus and ignoring the flashing lights. This puts students in grave danger.
Most school bus-related accidents occur within a 10-foot radius around the bus, where the driver has limited visibility. This area is called the "danger zone." It extends to 30 feet in front of the bus. To avoid accidents, teach your child to use caution when getting on or off the bus and always to stay out of the danger zone.” (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission - NJMVC)
Did You Know?
The Annual Certification deadline has been updated to August 15th of each year.
- In each school year, prior to the assignment of any driver to any vehicle (district) OR prior to the beginning of transportation of school pupils (contractor), a district providing transportation services and contractors awarded contracts by a board of education shall furnish to their respective county superintendent’s office the annual certification packet for all school bus drivers and school bus aides. Documents can be found on the School Bus Drivers and Aides page on this website. Please note that most of the documents have been updated for 2026.
- All school districts and school bus contractors are required to submit the documentation, in a collated manner, to their respective county office by the August 15th deadline to remain complaint. Should a district or contractor need assistance, they may contact their county transportation office. It is highly recommended that each district and contractor contact their county office prior to submitting the documentation to ensure that it is received.