House Bill 3 made its way to the Ohio Senate after having encountered no naysayers during the House of Representatives vote June 11. It seems unlikely there will be much resistance in the state Senate, either, as the School Bus Safety Act includes some important ways to keep students and drivers safer.

Most drivers know the rules regarding driving safely when school buses are on the road. Too many ignore them anyway. According to the National Safety Council, between 2013 and 2022 there were 1,082 fatalities and approximately 132,000 injuries as a result of school-bus related crashes.

HB 3 would increase penalties for illegally passing stopped school buses, and would authorize installation of cameras that could record such violations. It develops a School Bus Safety Fund and Grant Program, which would let school districts apply for money that would improve safety features on their buses.

“As a former educator, I believe HB 3 will protect the well-being and future of our children,” said Rep. Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta. “Safe transportation to and from school is essential for the growth and development of Ohio’s next generation.”

It’s a head-shaker that lawmakers must be thinking along these lines. Surely members of the state Senate will see things the same way.