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Blue Bird Corporation to distribute Redflex school bus safety cameras

Arizona-headquartered Redflex Student Guardian is to partner with school bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation to offer safety camera systems on school buses. The Redflex Student Guardian safety camera system monitors and automatically detects drivers who illegally pass school buses while students are embarking and disembarking. The cameras are installed on the front and rear driver’s side of a school bus and are triggered to capture data when a vehicle passes the bus while the stop arm is extended and amb
February 4, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
Arizona-headquartered 112 Redflex Student Guardian is to partner with school bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation to offer safety camera systems on school buses.

The Redflex Student Guardian safety camera system monitors and automatically detects drivers who illegally pass school buses while students are embarking and disembarking. The cameras are installed on the front and rear driver’s side of a school bus and are triggered to capture data when a vehicle passes the bus while the stop arm is extended and amber lights are flashing. Redflex Traffic Systems reviews the data, including photos and video of the incident, and then places the data into an electronic evidence file. Local law enforcement officers review the evidence to determine whether a citation is warranted.

“Safety is behind every design and manufacturing initiative at Blue Bird. This valuable effort with Redflex provides school districts and contractors with an additional resource in further ensuring student safety, with the notable and unique element of integrated enforcement,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “In collaboration with Redflex, the highly effective Student Guardian safety camera system is available from all Blue Bird dealers throughout North America.”

“This swift procedure is seamless for districts and contractors, as all steps of this process are handled by Redflex. This is truly a turnkey program,” said Thomas O’Connor, president of Redflex Student Guardian, a wholly owned subsidiary of Redflex Traffic Systems.

“It’s unrealistic to think law enforcement officers can patrol hundreds of school bus routes on their own every day,” said O’Connor. “Not only do the safety cameras monitor and deter drivers from breaking the law, they raise community awareness about school bus safety in general.”

“Photo enforcement is one of the most effective ways to curb illegal school bus passing, while also holding violators accountable,” said Karen Finley, president and CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems. “Student Guardian serves as a constant reminder for drivers to stop behind every school bus and make sure those students are safe.”

Currently, nine states permit the use of automated enforcement on school bus stop arms, and legislators in seven more states are exploring opportunities for enablement. Additional states are expected to follow suit in the near future.

According to a 2012 study conducted by the Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, twenty-eight states found that more than 88,000 vehicles illegally passed 100,000 school buses in a single day representing 16 million illegal passes nationally in a typical 180-day school year. Student Guardian can be operated at no cost to taxpayers and without any upfront capital investment from cities, school districts or contractors. The Student Guardian program is fully funded by violations.

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