Skip to main content

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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Intelligent crossing points leads to safer future for pedestrians
    May 19, 2014
    An innovative project at a busy UK retail park could provide the blueprint for a new approach to pedestrian safety, according to its developers. The system utilised hard-wired active flashing LED road studs from Rennicks UK to delineate the crossing, in conjunction with LED warning signs from Swarco. Pole-mounted C-Walk pedestrian detectors from Flir activate the high performance LED studs to create a striking visual warning for motorists approaching an internal crossing at Giltbrook, near Nottingham.
  • Contract awards for ATS
    May 8, 2015
    The city of Annapolis, Maryland has awarded American Traffic Solutions (ATS) for the installation and operation of a red-light safety camera program with an initial term of five years along with provisions for future term extensions. In Texas, the Harris County Department of Education/Choice Partners has exercised its second of four one-year renewal options, ensuring that school districts in Texas that are members of Choice Partners may contract with ATS for school bus stop arm camera programs.
  • Sensys Networks for critical traffic safety applications
    April 26, 2023
    Sensys Networks’ US supply chain qualifies for federal funding that favours key traffic safety applications. The company is here in Dallas to highlight how its products provide results around the world and point out that in the US, funding is set aside specifically to implement traffic safety solutions. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 provides an additional $32.5bn dedicated to traffic safety over five years.
  • Lytx welcomes transport secretary’s focus on distracted driving
    July 18, 2014
    Driver safety and compliance solutions specialist Lytx Europe has welcomed news that the UK transport secretary is considering a number of options to combat distracted driving. Patrick McLoughlin has suggested that the penalty for using a mobile phone while driving could be doubled from the current three points, while a government spokesman said "Using a mobile phone while driving is extremely dangerous which is why we are considering a number of options to deter drivers." Julie Townsend, deputy chief