Following a heartbreaking series of tragedies involving children hit by vehicles while boarding school buses, lawmakers are now advocating for the installation of exterior cameras on school buses. These cameras would capture images of drivers who illegally pass when the stop arm is extended, aiming to improve safety for children.
Legislative Action in Indiana
In Indiana, where three siblings lost their lives due to a reckless driver, Representative Mark Turner had already been working on legislation for the addition of cameras before this devastating incident. The push for this technology comes on the heels of another incident in which two young boys were also killed at their bus stop due to a driver ignoring the stop signal. If passed, the legislation would allow law enforcement to receive photographic evidence of violators, enabling them to issue citations.
The Frequency of Stop-Arm Violations
Stop-arm violations are alarmingly frequent and pose a grave danger to students. Although all 50 states mandate that vehicles must stop when a school bus displays its flashing red lights, violations occur regularly. A survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services found that over 75,000 drivers illegally passed school buses in just one day, based on responses from 97,000 bus drivers across the nation.
A Call for Nationwide Legislation
State legislators are encouraged to propose similar legislation for school buses nationwide, as this is a pressing issue that affects many communities. While there is no simple fix to reduce the number of daily violations, the implementation of cameras could help identify offenders and ultimately lower the number of infractions. Representative Lisa Grant supports this initiative, stating, “We must learn from these tragedies. The cost of inaction is far too high.”
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Conclusion
In summary, the call for exterior cameras on school buses is gaining momentum in response to tragic incidents involving children and reckless drivers. This initiative aims to enhance safety and hold violators accountable, addressing a significant public safety concern.