Skip to main content

Redflex acquires Smart Bus

Redflex Traffic Systems has acquired SBL Investments, and Americore Enterprises, leading providers of automated school bus arm photo enforcement in the United States. SBL and Americore offer the Smart Bus system, a dedicated on‐bus photo enforcement system intended to ‘Protect Our Most Precious Cargo, our children’. The acquisition positions Redflex as a leading provider of school bus safety photo enforcement technology at a time when more and more school districts are using the technology to deter reckless
May 21, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
112 Redflex Traffic Systems has acquired SBL Investments, and Americore Enterprises, leading providers of automated school bus arm photo enforcement in the United States. SBL and Americore offer the Smart Bus system, a dedicated on‐bus photo enforcement system intended to ‘Protect Our Most Precious Cargo, our children’. The acquisition positions Redflex as a leading provider of school bus safety photo enforcement technology at a time when more and more school districts are using the technology to deter reckless drivers who ignore school bus safety laws and put children at risk.

The transaction is valued at US$4.5 million initially with further payments over four years subject to meeting financial performance measures.

SBL and Americore will continue to operate as separate entities with Redflex as sole owner. Smart Bus President and CEO Tom O’Connor will be retained as president of Redflex’s school bus arm operations and the senior leadership and staffs of the two companies will remain in their current positions. Redflex plans to merge the Smart Bus system with its Redflex Student Guardian school bus arm photo enforcement system which was recently introduced.

“The acquisition of Smart Bus further solidifies our position as a leader in photo enforcement globally, and expands the opportunity to provide products and services into this emerging market” said Graham Davie, CEO, Redflex Holdings. “We are pleased that Tom has agreed to lead our North American school bus arm enforcement operations and that his leadership and staff will remain in place. They have strong knowledge of the industry and a track record of success.”

The Smart Bus system is currently being deployed by school districts in several states across the US, but opportunities exist in many other communities to expand the use of the school bus arm enforcement technology and introduce the use of other Redflex products, including intersection, speed and rail safety cameras. Ten states currently allow the use of school bus arm enforcement technology and at least ten others are considering legislation which would authorise its use.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Meeting the challenges of smartcard fare payment
    July 4, 2012
    David Crawford monitors a growing trend in contactless smartcard ticketing The north east United States has become a hive of activity in the smart fare payment arena. In October 2011, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) published, as a preliminary to an imminent procurement process, the detailed concept of its New Fare Payment System (NFPS). Based on open payment industry standards, this is designed to be implemented on all MTA bus and subway services operated by New York City Transit (
  • Bosch to acquire 5% indirect ownership stake in Here Technologies
    January 8, 2018
    Bosch is acquiring a 5% ownership stake from Here Technologies’ (Here) indirect shareholders Audi AG, BMW Group and Daimler AG to help boost its services business. The deal also assists Here in its goal of becoming a global provider of data-based real-time location services to clients within and outside of the automotive industry. It is expected to be concluded by the end of the first quarter of 2018. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price of the acquisition which is still subject to a
  • Silos are last century’s thinking
    April 21, 2016
    After 45 years in transportation, Ken Philmus sees the need for major change in a sector currently ill-prepared to meet the challenge of funding and rapidly advancing technological change. Having worked in both the public and private sectors, Ken Philmus, currently senior vice president of transportation solutions at Xerox, appreciates both approaches, but times are changing and he believes the sector needs to change too. “I like trains, planes and automobiles but I love the concept of mobility and that’s w
  • California Mobility Center opens for business 
    March 17, 2021
    Sacramento-based hub gives smart mobility start-ups access to venture capital