BUFFALO, N.Y. — When school resumes in the fall in the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Public Schools will be rolling out a new program that aims to keep kids safer when using the bus.
The stop-arm enforcement program, which was approved last year, will bring school bus stop-arm cameras to each bus in the district.
Artificial intelligence will then be used to catch drivers who illegally pass busses when they are stopped.
“Driving past a stopped school bus is extremely dangerous. Our children are on these school buses on a daily basis. We need to take every precaution to ensure students get to and from school safely,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said Thursday in a statement.
“This is a new initiative that will help keep students safe as they get on and off school buses in the City of Buffalo.”
From July 1 through Sept. 30, an awareness period will be in effect. Drivers will only be given a warning ticket during this time.
After the awareness period, tickets will be issued, and it could cost drivers who are caught illegally passing a school bus up to $250.
“Ensuring the safety of all of our students who rely on yellow buses to get to and from school each day is a top priority for the Buffalo Public Schools,” Buffalo Public School Superintendent Dr. Tonja M. Williams said in a statement. "The implementation of stop-arm cameras will strengthen the enforcement of existing traffic laws that require motorists to stop for school buses that have stopped to let students board or disembark safely.”