Philadelphia school buses to implement pilot program for detecting cars that illegally pass them.

The School District of Philadelphia is addressing a critical safety issue regarding the disregard shown by some drivers for the stop arms of school buses. The district currently lacks specific data on how many violations occur as students board or disembark from these vehicles, leaving officials concerned about the potential risks to student safety. Recently, Teresa Fleming, the district’s chief operating officer, reported that several incidents have occurred this school year where students sustained injuries as a result of interactions with vehicles, although the exact circumstances surrounding these events remain unclear.

In an effort to enhance safety measures, the School District has initiated a pilot program aimed at capturing instances of reckless driving through the use of advanced artificial intelligence technology. As part of this initiative, 20 of the district’s yellow buses will be outfitted with AI-backed cameras designed to automatically activate when the bus’ stop arm is extended, allowing for the documentation of drivers who violate the established safety laws.

This pilot program, which is set to run until mid-June, seeks to shed light on the frequency of drivers ignoring Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law. This regulation mandates that vehicles must halt at least 10 feet away from a school bus displaying an extended stop arm and flashing red lights. In neighboring New Jersey, the requirement is even more stringent, calling for a stop distance of 25 feet.

For this endeavor, the district has formed partnerships with BusPatrol, a leader in school bus safety technology, and Gatekeeper Systems, both of which have extensive experience in integrating camera systems into school buses. These cameras will enable the collection of evidence in real-time, capturing not only video footage of illegal passes but also recording license plate information for further legal action.

The implementation of this AI technology is part of a broader trend to combat the rising incidence of illegal school bus passes, as indicated by national surveys. In one such survey, approximately 98,000 school bus drivers reported observing more than 66,000 illegal passes in a single day across participating states.

As the pilot unfolds, the district aims to identify the appropriate city agencies responsible for issuing citations and to assess the overall effectiveness of the program. The selected buses for this pilot were chosen based on feedback from drivers, ensuring that those involved reflect a representative sample of the district’s operational routes. The results of this initiative may lead to further steps in deploying similar technology across other buses in the district, enhancing the protection of students as they travel to and from school.

This initiative underscores the commitment of the School District of Philadelphia to prioritize student safety and explore innovative solutions to safeguard the community’s children during critical transit times.