School bus safety measures ramp up amid rising incidents

During a recent government meeting, officials addressed ongoing concerns regarding safety incidents on school buses, including violence and children being left unattended. The discussion highlighted the measures currently in place to mitigate these issues.

Mr. McNamara outlined several initiatives aimed at enhancing bus safety. At the start of each school year, bus drivers receive comprehensive training focused on ensuring that no children are left on the buses. Additionally, a partnership with Bus Patrol has led to the installation of four interior cameras and three exterior cameras on school buses. These cameras provide a live feed with audio, allowing for real-time monitoring and the ability to review footage if incidents are reported.

While the system allows for access to live feeds and recorded footage, it was clarified that there is no dedicated personnel monitoring the cameras continuously across the fleet of approximately 200 buses. Instead, bus drivers are trained to report any incidents, which can then be reviewed using the recorded footage.

The meeting also touched on the potential for deploying bus monitors on certain routes, although this practice is not universally implemented across all schools. Mr. McNamara emphasized the importance of ongoing training for bus drivers to further reduce the frequency of incidents.

As discussions continue, officials remain committed to improving safety protocols on school buses to ensure a secure environment for students during their commutes.