Hijacking Prompts South Carolina School Bus Upgrades
Richland School District Two will add live video streaming and GPS to their Safe Fleet surveillance systems.
The hijacking of a South Carolina school bus in May prompted plans for a surveillance tech upgrade.
Photo courtesy Safe Fleet
A South Carolina school district will upgrade its 170 existing Safe Fleet surveillance systems with integrated live video streaming and GPS using Seon-branded cameras and DVRs.
“We already have the ability to download video wirelessly and planned to implement live streaming,” said Wayne Norton, transportation director for Richland School District Two in Columbia, S.C. “Live video streaming and GPS will help us quickly assess and proactively respond to any emergency situation in the future.”
South Carolina School Bus Driver, Students Safe After Hijacking
The upgraded technology will allow the school district to:
Give district administration and real-time emergency responders real-time access to live video inside the bus and pinpoint the bus’s location for rapid response.
Monitor and make better decisions in response to an emergency as it unfolds.
Provide students on the bus with internet connectivity via wi-fi hotspot.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is helping drive the initiative in the wake of a May 6 hijacking of a school bus by a Fort Jackson trainee. The sheriff said the technology could be valuable in critical situations and he wants live video streaming available on all buses within his jurisdiction.
How to Prepare for Potential Threats to School Bus Safety, Security
A neighboring school district, Lexington Five, is using Safe Fleet’s “Super Bus,” said Chris Akiyama, vice president of the school bus division at Safe Fleet. That bus is equipped with live video streaming, GPS services, 360-degree “around vehicle” monitoring, and a predictive stop arm that uses radar technology to help protect students outside the bus.
More Safety
From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →