Protecting your kids: new county program holds drivers responsible
With a new school year set to begin in just a few days, a new county program championed by the Republican Caucus is launching to help keep kids safe when getting on and off their school bus.
Chairman Burtis and Legislators Meaker, Gunnip, Fiato, Olson, Knapp and Bush joined the County Executive and officials from six school districts earlier this week to announce the initial rollout of the Onondaga County School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Program.
Cameras were installed on more than 500 buses countywide which will capture video of any vehicle which passes it while the red lights are flashing and the stop-arm is extended. License plates will be easily readable in the video and the registered owner of that vehicle will then be fined. The first violation carries a $250 fine, with higher amounts for additional violations.
Participating districts include Liverpool, Baldwinsville, North Syracuse, East Syracuse Minoa, Jamesville-DeWitt and Fabius-Pompey. Others have already signed on to be part of the program’s second phase.
The Legislature passed a local law establishing the program late last year. It was sponsored by Legislators Mark Olson and Dr. Cody Kelly.
Legislator Olson says, “We’ve seen too many videos of vehicles passing stopped school buses and nearly hitting students getting on or off. I can think of one just last year in Manlius. This law will help ensure the safety of every child that rides a bus and will hold vehicle owners responsible.”
Dr. Kelly says, “Our children are our future. With some of the recent incidents involving school buses, it was clear that we needed to take action. The evidence-based stop arm camera initiative will be an important tool in holding reckless drivers accountable. I help kids on and off the school bus everyday as a preschool physical therapist, and I take comfort knowing this local law will help to keep them safe.”
County officials say data from the company chosen to run the program locally shows that the cameras have already reduced violations in other areas of the country by more than half and that more than 98% of drivers cited once never pass a stopped bus again. Learn more about the program at ONgov.net.
