Children’s safety on and around school buses was most at risk during afternoon bus runs between 2 and 4 p.m., and during runs in the month of November, according to data released by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and public school system from last school year.
Last school year, the sheriff’s office issued 5,084 citations to motorists caught on camera passing a school bus when it had its stop arm extended while picking up or dropping off students, according to the release. In November there were 631 citations.
Vehicles are legally required to stop and give a 20-foot berth to a school bus displaying red lights and an extended arm with a stop sign attached.
Each citation represents a violation that was deemed legally enforceable by the sheriff’s office’s automated enforcement team. This means that in each case the bus displayed both amber and red lights as required, the offending vehicle was too close, and pictures captured a clear image of the vehicle, including at least one visible license plate, according to Cpl. Jon Light.
Cameras captured 8,933 motorists failing to stop for a school bus during last school year, according to Michael Hardesty, the school system’s transportation director, but not every violation results in a citation.
Civil violations incur a $250 fine but do not result in points on a driver’s license. Violators may choose to go to court, where a judge may increase the fine to as much as $500, according to Light. In addition to automated enforcement, a police officer who witnesses an offense may issue a ticket, which incurs a $570 fine and three points on the violator’s license.
“Our number one priority is keeping our students safe,” Carroll County school Superintendent Cynthia McCabe said in the joint news release.
In Carroll County, students are instructed to cross roads approximately 10 feet in front of their bus, after ensuring that the bus’ red lights are flashing, according to the school system. Parents are responsible for supervising students while walking to or from school or while walking to, from, or waiting at the bus stop. For more information about the school system’s bus policies, visit: https://bit.ly/3AzwIDt
“Safety is all of our responsibility,” said Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees. “Knowing that there will be additional parents, students, and buses on the roadways, make sure to allow yourself extra time for your commute, and be especially alert around bus stops.”
The school system and the sheriff’s office partnered with BusPatrol in 2020 to install cameras on the entire fleet of over 300 buses. According to the release, the nation’s most deployed school bus safety program uses cutting-edge automated photo technology to gather evidence, which aids law enforcement in addressing illegal bus-passing incidents.
Justin Meyers, president and chief innovation officer at BusPatrol, said the camera system is proven to make roads safer.
“These results are shocking, but not surprising, given the national epidemic that exists with illegal school bus passings,” Meyers said in the release.
Carroll County school buses were involved in 55 traffic accidents last school year, according to Hardesty, which averages about 1.5 incidents during a typical full week of school.
Carroll County’s public schools open for students on Sept. 3.
