Westchester County, New York, is reporting fewer illegal school bus passings during the first full year of its School Bus Safety Program, with officials pointing to increased awareness and enforcement as factors in changing motorists’ behavior.

Westchester County launched the program with BusPatrol during National School Bus Safety Week in October 2024. AI-powered stop-arm cameras installed on buses in participating school districts capture potential violations, which law enforcement reviews before issuing citations. The program now includes 22 school districts.

Violations Decline During First Full Year

According to the county’s 2025-26 annual report, citations requiring enforcement fell 23.8%, from 17,867 during the 2024-25 school year to 13,621 through June 2026. Average monthly violations also declined, from 1,786 to 1,513.

Westchester County officials attributed the improvement to a combination of greater public awareness and changes in driver behavior as the program expanded.

“The goal has never been to issue more citations,” a Westchester County spokesperson told School Bus Fleet. “The goal is to encourage safer driving habits, and a nearly 24% reduction in violations shows that message is getting through.”

BusPatrol similarly pointed to consistent enforcement and education. The company works with local governments on public awareness campaigns throughout the school year to educate motorists about school bus stopping laws and enforcement.

Repeat Violations Remain Below 5%

Another indicator county officials are watching is how frequently motorists receive another citation after their first violation.

Only 4.92% of citations involved repeat offenders, according to the annual report.

“When fewer than 5% of citations involve repeat offenders, it tells us that most drivers change their behavior after receiving a citation,” the county spokesperson said. “The program is creating accountability while reinforcing safe driving habits.”

BusPatrol said the results match trends it has observed in other communities using its stop-arm camera programs. The company is contracted on 40,000 school buses nationwide, its spokesperson said.

Data Pinpoints High-Risk Corridors

Beyond issuing citations, Westchester is using data collected by the camera system to identify locations where illegal passing occurs most often. Approximately 31% of the program’s enforcement activity was concentrated among the county’s top 20 locations, according to the report.

Westchester County Police and transportation partners use that information to evaluate traffic patterns and determine where additional attention may be warranted. The data can also inform discussions around enforcement, motorist education, and other safety measures.

For school transportation operations considering similar technology, county officials said the results also underscore the importance of looking beyond the cameras themselves.

“One of the biggest lessons we've learned is that success depends on strong partnerships,” the county spokesperson said. “It requires buy-in from school districts, law enforcement, local municipalities, and the community.”

Expanding Coverage Through Partnerships

Westchester’s program currently includes Lakeland, Mamaroneck, Ossining, Eastchester, Tarrytown, Blind Brook-Rye, Rye Neck, Katonah-Lewisboro, Greenburgh, Hendrick Hudson, Croton-Harmon, Tuckahoe, Irvington, Bedford Central, Bronxville, Pelham, Ardsley, Yorktown Central, Briarcliff Manor, Port Chester-Rye, Mount Pleasant Central, and Harrison school districts.

The county said it installs, operates, and maintains the camera technology at no cost to participating districts or taxpayers. County officials said broader participation can make the program more effective by creating more comprehensive coverage and reinforcing expectations for motorists across communities.

“It's not just a technology program, but a collaborative safety initiative focused on protecting students,” the county spokesperson said.