Starting Wednesday, April 9, drivers who illegally pass stopped FCPS school buses may receive a warning citation. And come May 12, violators will be mailed $250 fines. The warnings and fines are part of a new FCPS bus safety initiative.
Bus Safety Camera System
The joint Fairfax County/FCPS effort was announced last month; it includes 50 camera systems installed on FCPS school buses. The cameras will identify drivers who are not adhering to the stop-arm bus signals that alert traffic to students getting on or off of buses.
When a bus comes to a complete stop and the stop-arm is deployed, the camera automatically detects vehicles that pass within the enforcement zone. The cameras record video of the vehicle and capture images including the vehicle, its license plate, and the extended stop-arm.
Law enforcement will review violation videos and license plate images before issuing a warning or citation.
Fairfax County may expand the FCPS bus safety program once staff and police evaluate the effectiveness of the technology and administrative process.
Keeping Kids Safe
Children are at greatest risk for a school bus-related injury when they are boarding or leaving the bus, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“We are grateful for the close collaboration with our Fairfax County colleagues as we work together to ensure drivers follow the law when in the presence of children and school buses,” FCPS School Board Chair Karl Frisch said in a statement. “Our new stop-arm camera initiative will remind motorists of their responsibility to drive responsibly and keep students safe.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
