Orange County partners with Bus Patrol to combat illegal school bus passing

A groundbreaking initiative to enhance school bus safety is underway in Sullivan County, as officials unveil a partnership with Bus Patrol, a company specializing in technology to combat illegal school bus passing. This program aims to address the alarming statistic that school buses are passed illegally 45 million times each year across North America, putting students' lives at risk.

During a recent Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee meeting, an enforcement technician detailed how the program operates. Utilizing advanced technology, including license plate readers and AI, Bus Patrol captures video evidence of vehicles that ignore the red lights on school buses. The technician reviews thousands of these videos to confirm violations, ensuring that only genuine infractions are pursued.

The initiative, which began in September 2024, has already seen participation from four school districts, with plans to include all 18 districts in Orange County by the end of the year. The technician emphasized the shocking nature of the violations, noting that many drivers are distracted, often using cell phones, or blatantly disregarding traffic laws.

Importantly, the program is designed to be cost-effective for the county and school districts, as it does not require any financial investment from them. Instead, Bus Patrol manages the technology and data collection, allowing local authorities to focus on enforcement.

As the program expands, officials hope to significantly change driver behavior and enhance the safety of students during their commutes. The initiative represents a proactive step towards ensuring that children can safely board and disembark from school buses without fear of reckless drivers.