DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — The Steelton-Highspire School District is taking steps to enhance student safety by equipping its buses with new technology aimed at reducing illegal passing.
Each bus will feature cameras designed to capture the license plates of vehicles that ignore stop signs when children are boarding or exiting. This evidence will be sent to local law enforcement for action.
Superintendent Dr. Mick Isrick Jr. emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Student safety is our top priority. Installing Bus Patrol on our buses is a crucial move to protect our children. This technology allows us to hold drivers accountable, making it safer for students traveling to and from school. We’re making this investment without costing taxpayers a dime, showing our commitment to every student in our district.”
In Pennsylvania, state reports revealed nearly 200 violations in just one school day in 2023, totaling around 31,500 over the school year. This highlights a pressing need for change.
Justin Meyers, from BusPatrol, noted that similar programs have shown a significant drop in dangerous driving near school buses. “In other areas, using this technology has led to a reduction of over 40% in violations. This shows how effective our program can be in promoting safer roads for students,” he said.
PennDOT regulations require vehicles to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that are displaying red lights and a stop-arm. For a first-time violation, the penalty is $300.
The new safety measure will be operational starting January 24th.
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Steelton-Highspire SD,Photo technology,Illegal passing,Student safety,Bus Patrol,Local law enforcement,School buses,Safety initiative
