SAFE FLEET BLOG

Illegal school bus passings rack up an alarming 17 million stop-arm violations annually in the US, serving as a constant reminder of the potential dangers our children face. Each day, there are nearly 95,000 instances where a student is at risk of being hit by a vehicle.

Fortunately, proven technological advancements have brought new hope to the school transportation industry. These developments are helping to address the long-standing issue of the “Danger Zone” and are paving the way to a safer future for our children.

The Illegal Passing Suite

The Safe Fleet Illegal Passing Suite is a comprehensive and integrated solution designed to enhance the safety of students during daily commutes, specifically targeting the issue of illegal passing. In just three steps, this suite helps you address illegal passing and take a holistic approach to student safety.

Step 1: Heighten visibility that the school bus is stopping or stopped.

The Safe Fleet Hi-Visibility Stop Arm and Driver Alert Device work together to inform drivers behind the bus about an upcoming stop. Placed on the back door, the Driver Alert LED panel flashes “Caution – Stopping” when the bus slows down and activates its 8-way lights. When the bus’s red lights are on and the Stop Arm is deployed, the panel flashes “Stop Do Not Pass.”

The Hi-Visibility Stop Arm gets the driver’s attention with a highly reflective decal and the word “STOP” brightly backlit with LEDs. The arm deploys and lets drivers know the bus is stopped, and they should stop too.

Step 2: Proactively warn students of imminent danger.

The Safe Fleet game-changing Predictive Stop Arm® (PSA) combines radar and predictive analytics to scan three lanes in each direction, covering a distance of 1,000 feet. By assessing the likelihood of a vehicle stopping in time, the PSA offers a spoken word alert: “STOP, GET BACK, ” when risk is present. This gives students 3-4 seconds to step away from potential danger.

Step 3: Help enforce proper driver behavior.

Powered by AI technology, the Safe Fleet Stop Arm Camera utilizes HD video capture to record instances of illegal pass-bys. This advanced solution captures valuable evidence and facilitates law enforcement ticketing. By holding drivers accountable, this system reinforces safe driving behaviors and encourages drivers to think twice before illegally passing a stopped school bus.

Using the Power of AI to Mitigate Illegal Passing

Artificial intelligence plays a vital part in supporting the Illegal Passing suite. AI uses data captured from the suite’s cameras and combines advanced algorithms and analytics to issue a ticket to the violator.

This is how it works:

1. The cameras on the bus capture the violation, the vehicle and its license plate.
2. Advanced, AI-based algorithms analyze the footage against local laws to determine if a violation has occurred.
3. If a violation has occurred, an evidence package is formed.
4. The package is sent to the authorities for ticket processing.

A Real World Example

Students in the Flager school district in Flager County, Florida, are already reaping the benefits of this technology.

Flagler highlights the value of the Predictive Stop Arm (PSA) and Stop Arm Camera solutions, focusing on their ability to help raise student transportation awareness and prioritize school bus safety. Their system also allows them to report stop arm violations, aiding in identifying problematic areas for local law enforcement intervention.

“We have a golden obligation to protect students and transport them to and from safely. And implementing these new technologies, new resources for the bus, it’s only going to help us be better at making sure students have a valued experience.”

– Don Rowls, Director, Flager County School District

An all-in-one, government-supported Illegal Passing Suite

By integrating proven technologies such as Stop Arms, driver alert devices, and the field-tested Predictive Stop Arm (PSA), we create a safety umbrella that saves lives and complies with legislation.

This powerful suite seamlessly integrates with existing fleet technology, capturing footage of stop-arm violations and providing a complete view of incidents as they occur. Let’s deploy these life-saving measures on every bus, reducing risk and working towards zero student fatalities in the Danger Zone.

Together, we can prioritize the safety of our children.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No system can prevent all incidents. Inattentive drivers, weather, erratic student behavior, and other factors can inhibit detection and overall system performance. Drivers must always keep proper lookout.