New York-based Allegany‐Limestone Central School District (CSD) has purchased four new school buses equipped with safety technology, including collision mitigation and electronic stability control (ESC) systems, and Wi-Fi.

The new buses, purchased from New York-based IC Bus dealer Leonard Bus Sales, feature Bendix's Wingman Fusion system, which combines camera, radar, and braking technologies to deliver enhanced collision mitigation, according to a news release from the dealer. By combining camera and radar information, the system is able to provide features such as lane departure warnings, overspeed warnings, and enhanced braking capabilities.

“Safety is and will always be our first priority,” said Shawn Phinney, the transportation supervisor for Allegany‐Limestone CSD. “We are doing our part to ensure that students are as safe as possible during their travels to and from school and we ask that every driver join us in this commitment by exercising awareness and patience as school buses return to the road.”

By integrating these additional technologies and features, the Bendix Wingman Fusion system is able to provide alerts and mechanical interventions that are designed to help school bus drivers avoid crashes or reduce their severity, according to Leonard Bus Sales.

In addition to the ESC and collision mitigation systems, Allegany-Limestone CSD's buses feature Kajeet's SmartBus Wi-Fi solution to facilitate learning in and out of the classroom.

“The technology offered by Bendix and Kajeet SmartBus ensures that our school buses are an extension of the classroom and home — a place where students are safe and have the opportunity to grow,” said Tony Giannichi, the superintendent for Allegany‐Limestone CSD. “The investment in these state‐of‐the‐art buses is an investment by our residents in the future of our community.”

The district first provided Wi-Fi for students as a trial run on three school buses several years ago, and due to the success of the program, Allegany‐Limestone CSD upgraded its entire fleet. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, the district realized the need to bring Wi-Fi access to more rural and less‐privileged areas and used its Wi-Fi equipped buses as mobile hotspots to support remote learning.