GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Grand Rapids Public Schools today announced the launch of a new school bus stop-arm safety program designed to protect scholars as they travel to and from school and reduce dangerous driving behavior around stopped school buses.
The district and Dean Transportation have partnered with BusPatrol to deploy stop-arm safety technology across its entire school bus fleet at no cost to GRPS. The program focuses on preventing illegal school bus passings, a serious and ongoing safety risk for scholars as they board and exit buses at stops throughout the city.
The program begins with a 5-week warning period to educate drivers and raise awareness of Michigan’s school bus stop law. During this period, motorists who illegally pass a stopped school bus will receive warning notices by mail with no financial penalty. Full enforcement is scheduled to begin on April 27 after the warning period concludes.
As part of the initiative, 135 school buses will be equipped with stop-arm cameras. The technology is designed to capture evidence when a driver fails to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Recorded incidents are reviewed by the Grand Rapids Police Department before a citation is issued to the registered vehicle owner.
“The safety and well-being of our scholars is our top priority every day. Not just inside our schools, but everywhere our scholars go as part of their school day,” said Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby. “By adding stop-arm safety technology to our buses, we are creating safer conditions for scholars during one of the most vulnerable moments of their day.”
“More and more, drivers are choosing to ignore the flashing red lights on our school buses - putting our children at risk,” said Dean Transportation President and CEO Patrick Dean. “Dean Transportation is proud to partner with Grand Rapids Public Schools to stay at the cutting edge of safety and innovation.”
“This is a milestone day for safety in our community,” said Grand Rapids Police Department Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg. “Illegally passing a stopped school bus is one of the most dangerous traffic violations on our roads, and it is completely preventable. This program helps us address that risk by encouraging safer driving behavior around school buses.”
According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, more than 2,200 drivers illegally pass stopped school buses in Michigan on a single day, adding up to over 400,000 violations each year. Each incident places children at serious risk of injury or worse.
Under Michigan law, drivers must stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus when its stop signal is activated. Drivers must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the visual signals are deactivated.
The stop-arm cameras used on school buses are designed only to capture vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus. The enforcement cameras activate only when the bus’s stop arm and red lights are deployed. Footage of potential violations is securely stored and used solely for reviewing potential citations.
As part of the program, cameras will also be added to the interior of buses to add clarity when an incident occurs on the bus. This has been a top request of parents and caregivers during transportation town hall events and from the GRPS Parent Transportation Advisory Council.
The camera systems are provided at no cost to GRPS. A portion of ticket revenue will be utilized to pay for the program.
You can learn more about the school bus safety program on grps.org/departments/transportation/school-bus-safety-program.
