[Baltimore Sun] School bus camera safety program launches at Baltimore County Schools
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As the 2024-25 academic year begins at Baltimore County Public Schools, drivers should watch out for school buses that are newly installed with safety cameras.
BCPS launched a new program Monday, the first day of school, that equipped all school buses with interior and exterior traffic cameras to discourage drivers from passing while blinking, red lights are on. The cameras will be working on a cloud system, said Superintendent Myriam Rogers.
“The overall goal of this program is to increase motorist awareness of students walking to and from school bus stops and the importance of not passing a school bus,” Rogers said at a news conference Monday.
For the next 30 days, warnings will be given out to those who pass the bus stop signs, but after that, violating drivers will get a $250 citation 10 days after the incident. The cost of the program won’t be coming out of BCPS’ budget, Rogers said.
During the first year, over half the revenue will be used to continue the program, and the rest will go to the county government, said Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough at the news conference.
The Baltimore County government will disburse the money to the school system and programs focused on pedestrian safety. BCPS plans to reinvest these funds into its $6.5 million safety assistance program for secondary schools, Rogers said.
“I think this a response to an ongoing problem,” McCullough said Monday. “I think it is a much-needed program so we can protect our students.”
The police department initiated a one-day study last year during which 187 cars passed by buses with their stop signs out.
The school district said there were 332 school bus accidents last year, up from 308 the year before. BCPS was not able to provide the number of children struck while getting on or off the bus. Almost 80,000 students use the nearly 1,000 buses outfitted with high-definition cameras, the district said.
The school system has not reported any busing challenges for the first day of school. Ahead of the 2024-25 year, BCPS hired 10 bus drivers and three bus attendants, as well as 825 teachers, 29 office professionals, 49 paraeducators, 32 assistant principals and 13 principals, according to a news release.
“As a school system, we are ready, refreshed, and eager to offer instruction and opportunities designed to build academic achievement and student success,” Rogers said in the release.
Baltimore Sun reporter Lilly Price contributed to this article.
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