School bus drivers often witness distracted drivers on their phones, in a rush, or blatantly disregarding a stopped school bus – even when the stop arm is extended. These actions carelessly put children at risk of being struck by a vehicle on their way to or from school.

Given the gravity of the consequences of distracted and careless drivers, school bus stop arm safety programs have emerged as a crucial tool for protecting children during their daily commutes. These safety camera programs deter drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses and provide valuable data for enhancing overall road safety. However, the success of these initiatives hinges on careful planning and execution.

Check out these best practices and recommendations for deploying stop-arm safety programs quickly and efficiently.

How School Bus Stop-Arm Cameras Work

First, let me explain how these camera systems work. Each bus has a camera pod attached to the side of the bus. Once the vehicle stops, turns on safety lights, and fully extends the stop arm, the camera is activated to capture video of any drivers who illegally drive around the stopped bus.

When a potential violation is captured, a human operator will review the video to ensure that the bus was fully stopped and that the arm was deployed before the potential infraction occurred. Once a violation is confirmed, a citation is mailed to the vehicle's owner.

In most districts, the owner can review the video and contest if anything looks out of place, but given the safety checks beforehand, citations are rarely overturned. 

The Foundation: Selecting the Right School Buses

The first step in an effective stop-arm camera program is prioritizing the right school buses. This process involves more than simply selecting any bus in the yard - it’s essential to consider these factors to ensure an effective rollout:

• Functionality Assessment: Before installation, conduct a thorough assessment of your fleet. Identify and address any necessary repairs to ensure each selected school bus is in optimal condition before scheduling the upgrade.
• Long-term Availability: Choose buses that will be in regular service for at least nine months following the program's go-live date. This ensures consistent data collection and maximizes the impact of the safety initiative.
• Operational Readiness: Selected school buses should already be part of the daily fleet, fully operational, and integrated into regular transportation schedules.

Creating an Efficient Installation Environment

The installation process is a critical phase that requires careful planning and coordination. To streamline this process:

• Designate a Spacious Work Area: Allocate a generous space within your school bus lot for installation and testing. This area should accommodate multiple buses and allow for easy movement of equipment and personnel. If your bus lot is limited, consider partnering with local facilities with larger parking areas available during the week, such as sports stadiums, malls, or large churches.
• Prepare a Substitute Fleet: Have 10-20 buses ready each day to replace those being upgraded. This flexibility ensures minimal disruption to your regular transportation services.
• Coordinate with Drivers: Ensure drivers and keys are readily available during installation. This facilitates quick access to school buses for testing and verification and helps ensure the drivers who know the vehicles best can facilitate the installation process.

The Installation Process and Testing

A typical installation takes about four hours per bus, not including the crucial drive-by testing. During this time, technicians carefully install the equipment, ensuring a neat and professional finish. Once installed, buses are lined up for drive-by tests to verify system functionality.

These tests check various inputs, such as the stop arm operation, warning lights, and event capture. Events must be captured, successfully downloaded, and processed through the system's infrastructure. By performing this end-to-end verification, school bus fleet managers can ensure that when the buses are on the road, they are fully prepared to maximize student safety.

Addressing Common Challenges

Weather conditions, particularly in areas with harsh winters, can pose challenges to camera functionality. Regular lens cleaning becomes crucial in these environments. Additionally, accidental damage to cameras, often from side-swiping branches or other objects, is common, especially in new programs.

To mitigate these issues, consider implementing driver awareness programs. This could include placing reminder signs inside buses about the presence of cameras and the need for extra caution. Regular walkarounds before routes help drivers spot potential issues and serve as a physical reminder of the additional equipment on their buses.

The Broader Impact

While the primary goal of these programs is to enhance student safety, their benefits extend beyond the immediate school environment. Stop-arm camera initiatives raise community awareness about school bus safety laws, provide valuable data for broader traffic safety initiatives, and encourage overall safer driving behaviors around school buses.

Our data at Verra Mobility finds that 98% of the vehicles that get a citation never get a second citation, indicating that most people change their behavior after a citation. 

As we prioritize our students' safety, stop-arm cameras are a powerful tool to improve safety. They protect children and contribute to a safety culture that benefits everyone in the community. By following these best practices, we can ensure these programs achieve their full potential, safeguarding our most precious cargo – our children.