Skip to main content

ATS study finds school bus stop arm cameras effective in reducing violations

Analysis carried out by American Traffic Systems (ATS) on routes where its CrossingGuard school bus stop arm cameras are installed found that, while the number of violations on those routes fell by more than 15 per cent during the school year, customers have reported stop arm running violation decreases fleet wide, on all buses. The analysis also finds that less than one per cent of drivers who receive one ticket get a second citation. Both results indicate the camera safety programs are off to a quick
July 4, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
Analysis carried out by 6826 American Traffic Systems (ATS) on routes where its CrossingGuard school bus stop arm cameras are installed found that, while the number of violations on those routes fell by more than 15 per cent during the school year, customers have reported stop arm running violation decreases fleet wide, on all buses.

The analysis also finds that less than one per cent of drivers who receive one ticket get a second citation. Both results indicate the camera safety programs are off to a quick start at gaining drivers’ attention and influencing their behaviour.

The study tracks the number of citations issued from 290 school bus safety cameras in 15 separate programs in Georgia, Maryland, Virginia and Texas during the 2013-2014 school year. The report calculates the average number of citations per camera because programs in the study came online at different times throughout the year. Other findings in the online report include: Authorities issued 14,319 citations based on traffic violations captured on school bus safety cameras; The day of the week when most citable infractions occur is Wednesday; Slightly more violations occur on afternoon routes than for morning; For violations issued during the 2013/2014 school year, 99 percent of all drivers who received a violation for illegally passing a stopped school bus, did not receive a second. This low rate of repeat offenders indicates drivers are changing their behaviour.

In Cobb County Georgia, there were 1300 violations issued in August of 2013. In April of 2014, the number was 767, a 40 per cent decrease.

ATS CrossingGuard school bus stop arm cameras are typically placed on bus routes where a significant stop arm running problem has been identified.  

ATS supports all CrossingGuard stop arm programs with award winning public education materials that help increase community awareness about the dangers of school bus stop arm running.

“Each year, millions of drivers ignore their local traffic laws and blatantly pass school buses with children nearby who are innocently expecting drivers to stop. ATS is proud to work with so many school districts that recognise the safety benefits that come from installing cameras on the side of their school buses to assist police with the enforcement of traffic laws,” said ATS State and Local Government Solutions president Adam Tuton.

Related Content

  • January 30, 2012
    School bus stop arm violation enforcement
    The CrossingGuard school bus stop arm violation enforcement system, the latest innovation from American Traffic Solutions (ATS), consists of high resolution cameras mounted to the front and rear driver's side of a school bus. When the stop arm is extended, the system automatically detects if a vehicle passes the stopped school bus within the enforced zone. To allow the bus driver to stay focused on the road and the children on the bus, the CrossingGuard system automatically activates. High quality violation
  • January 28, 2013
    US study finds cameras reduce red light running
    The latest research by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that red light running rates declined at Arlington, Virginia, intersections equipped with cameras. The decreases were particularly large for the most dangerous violations, those happening 1.5 seconds or longer after the light turned red. "This study provides fresh evidence that automated enforcement can get drivers to modify their behaviour," says Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at IIHS and the study's lead au
  • January 24, 2014
    Georgia implements school bus safety cameras
    Several school buses in Clarke County School District, Georgia have been fitted with camera systems that will provide visual evidence of motorists who violate the flashing red lights and stop arms of school buses as children embark and disembark. The school bus stop-arm system utilises a series of six camera mounted on the bus to catch violators from several angles. When the stop arm is deployed, the cameras detect vehicles illegally passing in either direction and captures video of the violation and sti
  • September 26, 2013
    Analysis finds red light cameras change driver behaviour
    According to recent analysis by American Traffic Solutions (ATS), driver behaviour at Florida red-light safety camera monitored intersections continues to change. ATS found that the number of red-light running violations captured at monitored intersections throughout the state has fallen significantly as drivers have become more accustomed to increased red-light enforcement. Most importantly, the analysis found that fewer and fewer vehicles are being issued multiple violations. Ninety per cent of the ve