The ROSE TREE MEDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT is making roads safer for students and launching a new School Bus Safety Program this back-to-school season. Children returning to school on the yellow school bus can expect a safer, smarter commute this fall, thanks to a new safety initiative in Upper Providence Township.
Rose Tree-Media School District has partnered with the Upper Providence Township Police Department and BusPatrol to tackle the illegal passing of stopped school buses. As part of the safety initiative, the entire fleet of Rose Tree-Media School District school buses is outfitted with automated enforcement technology to detect the license plates of vehicles that fail to stop for school buses, putting children at risk. The video evidence is shared with local law enforcement for review before a citation is issued.
The programs will go live on Tuesday September 6, 2022, following an education and public awareness campaign. The campaign seeks to educate motorists and learner drivers about school bus safety laws and teach school children how to get on and off the bus as safely as possible. This education will take place now and be ongoing once the program is live. Each Rose Tree-Media School Bus is equipped with stop-arm cameras, Rose Tree-Media School District will also equip its buses with safety features at no cost to the district or taxpayers. The technology, installation, and maintenance are funded by violation revenue over a 5-year term. As stated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. The penalty for a first-time violation is $300.