School bus safety is a top priority for parents, educators, and lawmakers across New York State. The illegal passing of school buses is a major concern, as it puts children’s safety at risk when they are boarding or exiting a school bus. To help address this issue, the State of New York has passed legislation allowing school districts to install safety cameras on school buses to catch drivers who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus.
Back in October 2022, a School Bus Safety Program was launched across the Town of Hempstead to help reduce the illegal passing of school buses and improve student safety. This program was designed to benefit school districts in Hempstead by providing the necessary technology to ensure that children are safe when getting on and off the bus.
Automated Stop-Arm Enforcement is Needed
The Stop-Arm is the signal that a school bus uses to let drivers know that it has stopped and that children are getting on or off the bus. When the Stop-Arm is deployed, drivers on both sides of the road are required to stop and wait for the bus to move again before they can proceed. However, many drivers do not stop as required by law, putting children in danger.
To address this problem, the School Bus Safety Program will use Automated Stop-Arm Enforcement. This technology uses cameras mounted on school buses to capture images of drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus. The images are then reviewed by law enforcement, and violators will be issued a ticket.
How the School Bus Safety Program Reduces Illegal Passings
The School Bus Safety Program will help to reduce the illegal passing of school buses in several ways. First, it will provide school districts with the technology needed to capture images of violators. Second, the program will increase awareness of the consequences of illegally passing a school bus. Third, the program will create a deterrent effect, as drivers will know that they are being watched and will be more likely to stop when they see a school bus with its Stop-Arm deployed.
School Districts in Hempstead will Benefit from the Safety Program
The School Bus Safety Program will benefit school districts in Hempstead by providing the necessary technology to ensure that children are safe when getting on and off the bus. With the use of cameras mounted on school buses, the program will help to deter drivers from illegally passing a stopped school bus. This will make it safer for children to get on and off the bus and will give parents peace of mind knowing that their children are being protected.
Who Will Be Issued Stop-Arm Violation Tickets and What Are the Fines?
Stop-Arm Violation tickets will be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle that passed the stopped school bus. The owner of the vehicle will be responsible for paying the fine, which can be up to $250 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a third offense.
The School Bus Safety Program in the Town of Hempstead brings hope for safer roads and improved student safety. By implementing Automated Stop-Arm Enforcement, school districts in Hempstead now have access to advanced technology that helps protect their students and ensures their safe travel to and from school.
We understand that driving can be hectic and it’s easy to overlook the presence of a school bus, but it’s essential to always keep in mind the safety of children on the road. Let’s work together to create safer roads for our students and ensure they get to school and home without any incidents.