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Anne Arundel Schools Put AI-Powered Stop-Arm Cameras on Buses

Through a partnership with local law enforcement and BusPatrol, Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland will outfit its buses with technology designed to discourage dangerous driving around bus stops.

An extending stop sign on the side of a school bus.
Shutterstock/Jerry Horbert
Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland will use technology offered by the school bus safety program BusPatrol to discourage dangerous driving around bus stops as part of a partnership between the district, the Anne Arundel County Police Department and BusPatrol, a recent announcement said.

According to a news release, the district will upgrade its fleet of 750 school buses, including those from contractors, with AI-powered stop-arm cameras to detect violations and capture the license plates of drivers that illegally pass school buses. The district will then share video evidence with local law enforcement for review and validation before citations are issued.

“There is no bigger cornerstone in the foundation of educational success than the ability to transport students safely to and from our school buildings,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark T. Bedell said in a public statement. “This partnership is another step in accomplishing that, and we are grateful to those who have invested time, resources and energy in it. I urge everyone who utilizes our county’s roads to do so in a cautious manner so that we do not put our children at risk.”

According to the announcement, the program will launch on Oct. 1, following a warning period and public awareness campaign beginning when classes start on Aug. 29. It said the move aligns with Anne Arundel County’s commitment to Vision Zero, a global movement to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries to zero.

“This program will protect our children, make our roads safer, and give parents some peace of mind,” County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a news release. “It is yet another collaboration between our school system, county government and the private sector that will benefit everyone.”

The announcement said the district will be the latest in Maryland to make use of the BusPatrol Student Safety Platform across its entire fleet. School systems in Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Queen Anne’s counties are also operating stop-arm safety programs to tackle the issue of illegal passing. In some communities, the announcement said, the program has reduced violations by as much as 30 percent.

Richard Hetherington, director of program management at BusPatrol, said in a news release that the move comes amid a recent increase in dangerous driving habits in the Anne Arundel district.

“The safety program will significantly change driver behavior around school buses in Anne Arundel. Once the program goes live, motorists quickly learn to slow down and respect the yellow bus. After all, it carries our most precious cargo,” Hetherington said in a public statement.

In addition to stop-arm cameras, the announcement said, the district has also outfitted buses with additional safety features such as 360-degree safety cameras for a complete view of activity inside and outside the bus, GPS tracking and emergency response tools. The technology, installation and maintenance of the school bus safety program will be funded through violation revenues over a five-year term.

The announcement noted that Maryland state law requires vehicles approaching in either direction of a stopped school bus with red lights flashing to stop at least 20 feet away. Drivers may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the flashing red lights are deactivated. This rule, however, does not apply to vehicles approaching on a different roadway or a divided highway.

The announcement added that the district will run an ongoing awareness campaign to educate motorists, especially new drivers, about school bus safety laws and to teach school children how to get on and off the bus safely.