BusPatrol

Each day, over 21,000 school buses transport an estimated 1.3 million students across Pennsylvania. Reports indicate that these buses are illegally passed more than twice per bus, per day.

A 47-day study conducted in 2019 monitored two school buses in the state. The cameras recorded 205 illegal passes, or an average of 2.18 violations per bus, per day. This number far exceeds the citations issued by state law enforcement during the entire 180-day school year in 2018, highlighting the need for enhanced enforcement at school bus stops.

In 2020, Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 364 (now Act 38), which enables school districts to implement violator-funded school bus safety programs. This legislation empowers districts to enforce traffic laws and enhance the safety of Pennsylvania’s students.

Pennsylvania Operation Safe Stop 2021

In 2021, Operation Safe Stop revealed equally alarming results. The one-day study revealed that participating school districts and law enforcement agencies reported 252 violations of the law, up from the 120 reported last year.

The initiative is held in conjunction with local and state police departments, school districts, and pupil transportation providers to conduct enforcement, raise public awareness about the consequences of improper passing of school buses, and reduce occurrences.

Read the official media announcement here: https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/penndot-details.aspx?newsid=690

Learn more about Pennsylvania Operation Safe Stop here.

The Governor Mifflin School District School Bus Safety Program combines education with enforcement to change motorist behavior and create a culture of awareness and responsibility around school buses.

Modernizing School Buses

In addition to enforcement cameras, the GMSD fleet is now fully equipped with additional features to improve safety for students and drivers. This includes:

• 360° safety cameras inside and outside the bus
• GPS tracking
• Emergency response solution

All school buses that transport GMSD students are equipped with automated photo enforcement cameras on the side of school buses to capture violations and vehicle license plate numbers.

The violation is reviewed by law enforcement. Once approved, a notice of violation is sent to the registered vehicle owner by mail. In Pennsylvania, a first-time violation witnessed by a camera carries a fine of $300 and no license points.

In addition to the financial deterrent, violators learn about the potential dangers of their actions. Offenders can call the program's toll-free number at 1-800-852-7741 and speak with a representative who can review the video evidence and help them understand the dangers of illegal passing. Services are offered in both English and Spanish.

Data shows that over 95% of drivers don’t contest their ticket after seeing video evidence of their violation, and over 90% of first-time violators don’t offend a second time,

• Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop sign deployed.
• Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
• Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing and all children have reached safety.
• If a physical barrier separates the roadways such as grassy medians, guide rails, or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
• Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

For more information on school bus safety laws, refer to PennDOT.