Washingtonville to participate in new countywide school bus safety initiative

Standing in front of Washingtonville High School alongside Superintendent Dr. Larry Washington and other officials, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus announced the launch of a groundbreaking School Bus Safety Program in collaboration with school districts countywide and BusPatrol. The initiative aims to address the critical issue of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses, thereby endangering the lives of children.

The Orange County School Bus Safety Program, implemented in partnership with BusPatrol, will equip the entire school bus fleet across the county with cutting-edge safety technology. This includes state-of-the-art AI-powered cameras designed to detect license plates of vehicles that violate school bus traffic laws. The provision, installation, and maintenance of this advanced technology come at zero cost to the school districts and taxpayers, thanks to BusPatrol's violator-funded program.

There are four school districts, including Washingtonville, that have initially signed up for the program so far and more are expected. 

"Ensuring the safety of our children on their way to and from school is a top priority for Orange County," said Neuhaus. "By partnering with BusPatrol and implementing this innovative School Bus Safety Program, the Orange County Emergency Services Department and I are taking proactive measures to protect our students and prevent tragic accidents caused by reckless motorists."

The program is set to launch in the Washingtonville School District following an extensive education and awareness campaign aimed at reminding motorists of school bus safety laws. As part of this campaign, prominent road signs will be strategically installed in areas identified as having high instances of stop-arm violations. In the 30 days leading up to the program launch scheduled for June 8, motorists who fail to stop for a school bus with its stop-arm extended and red lights activated receive warning letters in the mail, without incurring any monetary penalty. After the 30-day warning period, the consequences for violating school bus safety laws are significant, with a first-time stop-arm violation carrying a fine of $250. Subsequent violations within 18 months will incur an additional $25 penalty, up to a maximum of $300.

"We're proud to partner with Orange County on this critical safety initiative to protect students," said BusPatrol President and Chief Innovation Officer Justin Meyers. "In other communities, automated school bus stop-arm enforcement has successfully reduced violations by more than 40%, and we look forward to changing driving behavior through education and enforcement here in Orange County."  

“School and student safety is our top priority,” Dr. Washington said. “We are appreciative of the relationship we have with the county, so when they approached us with this program, we felt it was another way for us to help maximize the safety of our students, especially those riding a bus.”

For more information about the Orange County School Bus Safety Program and its mission to safeguard our children's journey to and from school, contact Rob Doss, Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services – Police Liaison, at RDoss@orangecountygov.com.