BC News

New technology allows BC buses to record drivers who illegally pass them

Release Date: April 30, 2009

As if the risks to life and limb associated with illegally passing a school bus aren't serious enough, here is a new reason not to in the Bethlehem Central School District — you may be on tape.

A grant from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee is allowing the district to equip buses with a technology called mobile license plate readers that can capture the license plates of those that pass district buses illegally on the road.

It is estimated that motorists pass stopped school buses more than 50,000 times a day in New York State, placing students, other pedestrians and motorists at great risk for serious injury and even death.

Transportation Director Al Karam said it is his hope that the license plate readers will lead to greater awareness about this issue in the district and beyond, and lead to the elimination of cars passing school buses illegally. This includes, he said, in school parking lots where illegal passing is also an issue.

On Thursday, April 23, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, in partnership with the district and a variety of state and national partners, celebrated Operation Safe Stop Day in New York by announcing the camera initiative at a press conference at Eagle Elementary School.

The following is the press release from that event:

ILLEGAL PASSING PRESENTS DANGERS TO OUR CHILDREN

Calling illegal passing of school buses a serious risk for our children, the New York Association for
Pupil Transportation will team up with law enforcement officials and the Governor’s Traffic Safety
Committee to conduct a statewide OPERATION SAFE STOP DAY on April 23, 2009.

On this day, school transportation officials, state leaders, local and state law enforcement officials and the media cooperate not only to alert the public about the dangers that illegal passing present to our children and to ticket motorists who illegally pass school buses across the state.

NYAPT notes that law enforcement agencies across the state, including the City of New York, will
participate and will write an estimated 1,200 tickets for violations of Section 1174 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law – illegal passing of school buses. Partners in this effort include the New York State
Police, County Sheriff Departments and dozens of local or municipal police agencies.

OPERATION SAFE STOP DAY began in 1995 as a voluntary effort among local concerned transportation supervisors and law enforcement officials. This day reminds us of the startling fact that motorists pass stopped school buses at least 50,000 times each day in New York State. That is at least 50,000 times every day that a child is placed at great risk of being injured or even killed.

OPERATION SAFE STOP is intended to remind the public that the law requires them to STOP for a
school bus that is stopped and has its red flashing lights engaged. Those flashing red lights mean that a child is about to board the school bus or step down from the school bus. In short, all vehicles moving in either direction are required by law to STOP. Violators face stiff fines and penalties.

In an innovative and cutting edge effort to help combat this dangerous problem, the New York
Association for Pupil Transportation is pleased to join with the New York State Governor’s Traffic
Safety Committee (GTSC) in announcing that school buses in three school districts will be equipped
for the remainder of the school year with an ELSAG mobile license plate reader. These digital readers, supported by a grant from the GTSC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of such devices in identifying and apprehending motorists who pass school buses illegally and therefore endanger our children.

The project will equip school buses from the Bethlehem Central School District, the Brewster Central
School District and the Canandaigua City School District with an ELSAG unit. The ELSAG mobile
license plate reader is similar to those employed by many police departments in the state. The
demonstration project will include public education and issuance of formal warnings to violators.

 

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