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Bus Patrol

Pottsville Area School District School Bus Safety Program

Stop for the Bus. It’s Pennsylvania State Law.

Pottsville Area School District has partnered with BusPatrol to launch a school bus safety program in line with PA Motor Vehicle Code § 3345.1.

All district buses are now equipped with safety technology, including stop-arm enforcement cameras to detect vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses. This safety initiative will curb dangerous motorist behavior and make the ride to and from school safer for all student riders.

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), school buses are unlawfully passed more than 43.5 million times each school year in the United States.

To speak to a representative about a safety violation,
contact the AlertBus Customer Contact Center at 1-800-852-7741.

School Bus Safety – A Pervasive Issue Across Pennsylvania

Every day, 1.3 million students are transported by more than 21,000 school buses throughout Pennsylvania. * Reports suggest these buses are illegally passed more than two times per bus per day.

A 47-day study of two school buses in the state was conducted in 2019. Cameras recorded 205 illegal stop-arm passes or 2.18 violations per bus per day. This is far higher than the number of citations issued by state law enforcement throughout the entire 180-day school year in 2018.

In 2020, Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 364 (now Act 38), allowing school districts to implement violator-funded stop-arm enforcement programs to enforce school bus safety traffic laws and ensure the safety of Pennsylvania students.

*School Bus Fleet Fact Book 2020.

**Data collected from pilot programs in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Operation Safe Stop 2021

In 2021, Operation Safe Stop revealed equally alarming results. The one-day study revealed that participating school districts and law enforcement agencies reported 252 violations of the law, up from the 120 reported last year.

The initiative is held in conjunction with local and state police departments, school districts, and pupil transportation providers to conduct enforcement, raise public awareness about the consequences of improper passing of school buses, and reduce occurrences.

Read the official media announcement here

Learn more about Pennsylvania Operation Safe Stop here  

 

How the BusPatrol Safety Program Works

The Pottsville Area School District School Bus Safety Program combines education with enforcement to change motorist behavior and create a culture of awareness and responsibility around school buses.

Before the first ticket is issued, the program starts with an extensive PSA campaign. This campaign reminds motorists of school bus stopping laws and teaches children road safety tips for getting on and off the bus.

Campaign Overview

  • Community awareness
  • Child education
  • Motorist education

This education and awareness activity continues after the program is live to continue educating our community for safer roads.   

 

Modernizing School Buses

In addition to stop-arm enforcement cameras, the Pottsville Area School District fleet is now fully equipped with additional features to improve safety for students and drivers.

This includes:

  • 360° safety cameras inside and outside the bus
  • GPS tracking
  • Emergency response solutions