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SEARCHThe new law requires all RI state school buses to install outward-facing cameras to deter illegal passing and protect riders on board.
Data from Rhode Island’s Traffic Tribunal reported over 7,000 drivers were caught on camera illegally passing school buses in the state during the 2024–25 school year.
Photo: Dylan McCullough, CCO - Anderson District 3 (S.C.) / School Bus Fleet
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee recently signed a law requiring specific safety technology to be added to all school buses in the state.
H5421A/S568A requires all school buses in Rhode Island to be equipped with outward-facing video systems to protect all students and workers on board the vehicles.
According to WJAR, data from Rhode Island’s Traffic Tribunal reported thousands of drivers caught on camera illegally passing school buses in just the recent school year. Between Oct. 1, 2024, and June 12, 2025, over 7,000 violations were issued from footage captured on school bus cameras.
Rhode Island Teamsters celebrated the approval, as H5421A/S568A is the latest school bus safety bill enacted due to Local 251.
“Because of our efforts, workplace democracy is emboldened, and more people’s lives are going to be saved,” said Matt Taibi, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 251.
Rhode Island Teamsters encouraged the passing of laws that provide school bus workers with prevailing wage standards, a guaranteed 180 paid school days, and protection from arbitrary removal by school districts. Last year, the union also successfully lobbied to include workers’ protections in creating a commission to improve the statewide student transportation system.
“Today we celebrate, but let’s be clear: we’re not done,” Taibi said. “We still have many other legislative priorities, and our fight continues until every one of them is law.”
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