Dutchess County CEO Marc Molinaro announced today that the district has partnered with BusPatrol to launch a school bus safety program that addresses the issue of drivers passing illegally over school buses that have stopped. As part of the partnership, more than 1,000 buses Of schools across the Duchy County have access to advanced safety technology at no cost to local taxpayers, including cameras stop arms to help enforce traffic laws and educate drivers about the dangers of passing buses.
Pine Plains Central School District is the first in Dutchess County to implement the program across the entire fleet of 38 school buses; Several other local districts are expected to join the program in the coming year. The program will begin with an initial warning period: starting today, drivers who illegally pass a school bus in the Payne Plain that is equipped with these cameras will receive a warning until January 12, 2022. From January 13, 2022, drivers who do so will receive a warning. Receive a quote and fine by mail.
Molinero County CEO said, “The safety and well-being of Duchess County children is a shared responsibility, in which we all play a role, and that includes our homes, our schools and our roads. Passing a school bus that has been stopped is more than illegal, it is dangerous and threatens the lives of young students every day. “Dutches County will not tolerate such reckless conduct, and today’s partnership with BusPatrol sets out our intention to maintain student safety: if you illegally pass a school bus, at the risk of child safety, be prepared to pay the fine.”
Dutchess County has contacted several other local districts, which are expected to join the program in early 2022, using life-saving technology to protect thousands of more local students.
According to the governor’s traffic safety committee, an estimated 50,000 drivers pass illegally on school buses detained daily in New York State, endangering the lives and safety of children.
Dr. Martin Handler, Superintendent of Fine Plains Schools, said, “The safety of our students is a top priority, and the Fine Plains Central School District is eager to protect students from drivers who break the law and drive illegally around a school bus that has stopped. Pine Plains is proud to be the first local school district to take part in the district partnership with BusPatrol and take an active role in protecting our students. We are confident that this partnership will improve student safety, and has the potential to save lives. “
In addition to stop cameras, school districts have access to additional safety technology that includes:
- 360-degree security cameras are managed in the cloud (interior, windshield, rear view and side load) to provide a full view of the activity around the school bus;
- Emergency solutions to enable student transportation, schools and law enforcement to respond immediately; and
- GPS, routing and telemetry solutions to see where buses are located at any given time.
The technology, installation and maintenance of all hardware and software included in BusPatrol’s student safety platform are provided free of charge to the school district and taxpayers. The program is fully funded by violators for a period of five years.
Jean Solier, CEO and Founder of BusPatrol, said, “Our safety programs help promote a safer driving culture across New York State. We want to create a reflex in the drivers so that whenever they see a big yellow bus on the road, they slow down and get ready to stop. This simple action can help save a child’s life. “