Children who ride to school on the bus can expect a safer, smarter commute thanks to a new safety initiative in the city of Chester. The Chester Upland School District (CUSD) has partnered with local law enforcement and BusPatrol to tackle the illegal passing of stopped school buses.
As part of the safety initiative, the entire fleet of CUSD buses will be outfitted with automated enforcement technology to detect the license plates of vehicles that fail to stop for school buses, putting children at risk. The video evidence is shared with local law enforcement for review before a citation is issued.
The program is expected to go live in February 2024, following an education and public awareness campaign. The campaign seeks to educate motorists and learner drivers about school bus safety laws and teach school children how to get on and off the bus as safely as possible. This education will be ongoing once the program is live.
“I am excited that CUSD will soon launch the BusPatrol Safety Program to protect our students at bus stops,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Latrice M. Mumin. “During community meetings, I and other CUSD administrators heard from dozens of concerned parents and citizens regarding safety concerns for our students who ride public transportation. With that in mind, and focusing on our commitment to protecting our students, we have partnered with BusPatrol and are moving forward with implementing the program.”
Last October, Pennsylvania authorities reported more than 250 stop-arm violations in one day during Operation Safe Stop. In 2020, Allentown School District captured over 200 illegal passings on just two school buses over a 47-day stop-arm study. This is equal to 2.18 violations per bus per day.
Kate Spree, a spokesperson for BusPatrol, said that the safety initiative is proven to make roads safer: “Every day, thousands of cars ignore school bus stop-arms and speed past school buses as children are stepping on and off. Sadly, this dangerous motorist behavior is only getting worse. Our safety programs combine education and enforcement to change driver behavior and ensure that all motorists know when to stop for the big yellow bus. In some communities, our programs have reduced the rate of illegal passing by up to 30% YoY.”
In addition to stop-arm cameras, CUSD will equip its buses with safety features at no cost to the district or taxpayers. The technology, installation, and maintenance are funded by violation revenue over a 5-year term.
As stated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses with red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. The penalty for a first-time violation is $300.