Westchester Reporter

Westchester County has introduced a new school bus safety program aimed at reducing illegal passing incidents around school buses. This initiative, launched in collaboration with BusPatrol, coincides with the 2024 National School Bus Safety Week.

County Executive George Latimer emphasized the importance of compliance with New York State law, which mandates that motorists stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus when its red lights are flashing and the stop-arm is deployed. Latimer stated, "The technology, installation, and maintenance of these safety systems come at no cost to school districts or taxpayers."

The program equips every bus in participating district fleets with stop-arm cameras that use artificial intelligence to detect vehicles illegally passing stopped buses. For the first month, offenders will receive warning violations without monetary penalties. Ticketing will commence on November 18.

Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins highlighted the dangers posed by reckless driving near school buses: “Each year, thousands of children are put in danger due to reckless and illegal driving behavior around school buses.”

Senator Pete Harckham supported the enforcement measures: “The increasing number of illegal passings of stopped school buses by vehicles necessitates more comprehensive enforcement measures.” Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg praised Westchester County's implementation of this program: “This program will save lives while making all drivers more mindful of their behavior on the road."

Chairman Vedat Gashi expressed his concerns as a parent: “As a father of two young kids, nothing is more important to me than the safety of school children in Westchester County.” Legislator Emiljana Ulaj noted common distractions among drivers and endorsed the initiative for student protection.

Local leaders such as Ossining Town Supervisor Liz Feldman and Ossining Union Free School District Interim Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter expressed support for the added safety measures. James Minihan from Ossining Union Free School District called it "a game-changer for bus safety."

New York State law imposes a minimum civil penalty of $250 for violations captured by stop-arm cameras. These penalties do not affect driver's license points or insurance rates but require law enforcement review before issuing violation notices.

BusPatrol CEO Karoon Monfared remarked on their partnership's success in reducing violations significantly in other regions: “This partnership is a win-win for student safety.”