In just six weeks since the start of the 24-25 school year, nearly 700 (Peabody) and 1,100 (Salem) vehicles failed to stop for school buses their school bus stop-arm camera pilot programs, conducted in partnership with BusPatrol
Salem Public Schools and Peabody Public Schools each unveiled troubling new data regarding illegal school bus passings since the start of the 2024-25 school year. The data – released to coincide with National School Bus Safety Week – is from their respective school bus stop-arm camera pilot programs, which are being conducted in partnership with BusPatrol, the leader in school bus safety technology. The two pilots are the first of its kind in Massachusetts.
From September 3 to October 24, 7 Peabody school buses equipped with BusPatrol’s AI-powered stop-arm cameras recorded 661 vehicles failing to stop for school buses that were stopped with their red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. This is equivalent to 3 illegal passes per bus per day.
From September 4 to October 22, 11 Salem school buses outfitted with BusPatrol’s AI-powered stop-arm cameras recorded 1,094 vehicles blowing by stopped school buses. The is equivalent to 3.1 illegal passes per bus per day.
As captured by BusPatrol, a series of videos of motorists caught on camera illegally passing stopped school buses in Peabody and Salem since the start of the school year can be viewed here. The footage also includes close encounters, providing the public with a firsthand look into the reckless driving that regularly endangers youth when getting on and off a school bus.
“For children in both Peabody and Salem, MA, and nationwide, the most threatening part of their school day is boarding and exiting the bus, given the epidemic of illegal passing of school buses by reckless or distracted motorists in what is a blatant disregard for student safety,” said Karoon Monfared, Chief Executive Officer at BusPatrol. “Through our stop-arm enforcement program, we are committed to helping prevent this issue and ensure children get to and from school safely.”
In the spring of 2023, Peabody Public Schools and the City of Peabody partnered with BusPatrol to conduct a bus-stop arm camera pilot program. Last May, Salem Public Schools and the City of Salem followed suit, becoming the second district and city in the state to partner with BusPatrol on a bus-stop arm camera pilot program.
Massachusetts legislature is considering legislation that would allow school districts, in partnership with law enforcement, to operate stop-arm-enforced camera systems to address illegal school bus passings. This legislation comes after years of advocacy from Massachusetts communities and supporters who have raised concerns about an alarming surge in reckless motorist behavior around school buses.
At least 28 states, including Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Maine, have legalized school bus stop-arm enforcement programs.
Without a fix to Massachusetts state law, communities are unable to leverage photo enforcement technology to ticket motorists who break the law and fail to stop. The districts hope the findings from the stop-arm surveys will serve as a compelling case for passing laws that allow for more effective enforcement measures in Massachusetts.
Each school year, an estimated 45.2 million reckless motorists illegally pass stopped school buses, putting kids’ lives in danger, according to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.
For more information on BusPatrol’s efforts and to learn more about school bus safety, visit BusPatrol.com.
Watch videos of illegal passings below: