Baltimore County Public Schools sent out a press release about a new School Bus Camera Safety Program for their buses. Here is their release:
Under a new initiative, focused on student safety, the Baltimore County Police Department has partnered with Baltimore County Public Schools and AngelTrax to install automated school bus enforcement cameras on nearly 1,000 buses that transport students to and from school and various programs within Baltimore County.
According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, data shows that each school year motorists pass stopped school buses an estimated 43.5 million times within the United States. The school bus enforcement camera initiative will ensure a safer journey for the roughly 80,000 school students transported by bus in Baltimore County.
“Keeping our students safe is a priority for all of us in Baltimore County — and we are excited for the opportunity to use new data and technology to ensure that children can travel to and from school in safety,” said Baltimore County Government County Executive Johnny Olszewski.
“Thanks to the partnership between our police, public school system, and AngelTrax, this initiative will enable Baltimore County to cite reckless drivers and make our roadways and communities safer for all residents.”
The School Bus Camera Safety Program mandates that cameras be mounted on all buses. Motorists who illegally pass a stopped school bus with activated flashing red lights will be subject to a $250 fine. Each citation will be verified by AngelTrax and reviewed, verified, and approved by an employee of the Baltimore County Police Department. Following that review, citations will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. No points are associated with the issuance of a citation.
“The safety of our children is a responsibility we all share,” said Baltimore County Police Chief Robert O. McCullough. “Through the use of this technology, the Baltimore County Police Department aims to deter dangerous driving habits and further enhance the safety of our students and communities.”
“BCPS is excited to implement this student safety initiative, in partnership with the Baltimore County government and the Baltimore County Police Department, said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers.”
“It takes all of us doing our part to keep children safe as they walk to school, cross our roadways, and get on and off the school bus. Each year, we hear horrifying stories of cars that pass stopped buses at alarmingly high rates of speed. This is unacceptable, and I implore all drivers to slow down and take extra caution on the road as students across the state are returning to school.”
When approaching a stopped school bus with activated flashing red lights, Maryland law requires drivers traveling in both directions to stop at least 20 feet from the school bus. If a physical barrier is present, such as a median, only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop until lights are deactivated.
To inform drivers of this new initiative before the enforcement of fines, warning notices will be mailed to motorists for at least 30 days.
