By the start of the 2019-2020 school year, at least 30
school buses will be equipped with interior and exterior camera systems.
Twenty-five of the camera systems were purchased through funds received from two different grants – Ohio Attorney General Safety Grant and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Safety and Security Grant. The other five camera systems are being purchased with funds from the Permanent Improvement Fund.
The camera systems are equipped with high resolution video and audio. The cameras are placed underneath the buses’ stop sign, the rear exterior of the bus, and four cameras are placed throughout the interior of each bus.
Drivers who fail to obey safety laws will be reported to the Ohio State Highway
Patrol.
“The clarity of the videos from these cameras are second to none,” said Transportation Director James Haffa. “Having these cameras have helped us tremendously. Bus drivers get frustrated when motorists drive through the stop sign. Their first priority is to make sure the kids are safe, so they don’t always have the time or the ability to get the driver’s license plate number. With these new cameras, we can get the plate numbers easily and report it to authorities. Drivers need to learn to stop for the buses.”
“So far, we’ve been able to make enforcement action on most of the violators,” added Steven Jefferies, an Ohio State Highway Patrolman as well as a Riverside Board Member. “Those that run the bus stop sign must appear in court and go in front of the judge, they cannot just pay the fine. It’s a mandatory court appearance.”
The grants also included school emergency radio system upgrades and four
two-way radio systems that have access to first responders.
