Stop-arm cameras reducing passing violations, study shows

According to a new analysis of American Traffic Solutions’ CrossingGuard School Bus Safety Camera programs in operation, the number of violations on bus routes where a significant stop-arm running problem is identified falls by more than 15% during the school year. The analysis also finds that less than 1% of drivers who receive one ticket get a second citation.

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July 1, 2014

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TEMPE, Ariz. – American Traffic Solutions (ATS) is helping school districts across the country protect children from drivers who fail to stop for school buses, according to a new analysis of ATS’ CrossingGuard school bus safety camera programs in operation.

ATS CrossingGuard school bus stop-arm cameras are typically placed on bus routes where a significant stop-arm running problem has been identified. While the number of violations on those routes fell by more than 15% during the school year, ATS customers have reported stop-arm running violation decreases fleet-wide on all buses. In Cobb County, Georgia, there were 1,300 violations issued in August of 2013. In April of 2014, the number was 767, a 40% decrease.

ATS supports all CrossingGuard stop-arm programs with public education materials that help increase community awareness about the dangers of school bus stop-arm running.

The ATS-produced analysis also finds that less than 1% of drivers who receive one ticket get a second citation. Both results indicate the camera safety programs are off to a quick start at gaining drivers’ attention and influencing their behavior. To view the online report visit www.atscrossingguard.com.

“Each year, millions of drivers ignore their local traffic laws and blatantly pass school buses with children nearby who are innocently expecting drivers to stop,” said ATS State and Local Government Solutions President Adam Tuton. “ATS is proud to work with so many school districts that recognize the safety benefits that come from installing cameras on the side of their school buses to assist police with the enforcement of traffic laws.”

The study tracks the number of citations issued from 290 school bus safety cameras in 15 separate programs in Georgia, Maryland, Virginia and Texas during the 2013-14 school year. The report calculates the average number of citations per camera because programs in the study came online at different times throughout the year. Other findings in the online report include:

•   Authorities issued 14,319 citations based on traffic violations captured on school bus safety cameras.
•   The day of the week when most citable infractions occur is Wednesday.
•   Slightly more violations occur on afternoon routes than for morning.
•   For violations issued during the 2013-14 school year, 99% of all drivers who received a violation for illegally passing a stopped school bus did not receive a second. This low rate of repeat offenders suggests that drivers are changing their behavior.

Passing vehicles are responsible for 39% of all student school bus loading and unloading fatalities since 1970 in the United States, according to the Kansas State Department of Education, which tracks these incidents.

This is ATS’ first progress report on its CrossingGuard School Bus Stop Arm Safety Camera Program.