Decatur Township School Buses Install Cameras to Enforce Two-Way Stopping by Drivers

School is back in session, and with it, the importance of ensuring children's safety while boarding or exiting school buses. Unfortunately, every year, a child gets hurt due to drivers not stopping when they are getting on or off the bus.

“When the four-way flashers start to come on, obviously that's a cue to the motorists out there to start slowing down because the stop arms are getting ready to come out. When you see those flashing lights, go ahead and push on the brake and start looking around for kids.”

Todd Scounce, Director of Transportation at Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, emphasized that not everyone stops on both sides when the flashing lights and stop arms are out, leading to close calls or worse.

“We have a few each week, we chart all that through the year and try to make sure we find our heavy spots and get our police involved in those locations to make sure that doesn't happen.”

To address this issue, the district has added new stop arm cameras to several buses. The cameras will help hold accountable those who do not stop at school bus stops.

“They'll be able to catch a person if they do run the stop arm, they'll be able to see their face, their license plate as they go by, and it just be hopefully another deterrent, to just slow down and let the kids get to school safely.”

Scounce highlighted that this is a problem impacting districts locally and nationwide, and is asking people to pay attention as bus drivers try to get kids safely to and from school.

“It's very dangerous, and because the kids don't see that coming, a lot of times and the driver does everything they can to look in their mirrors and make sure things are safe. But, obviously, people are in a hurry nowadays, and again, when you see these big yellow buses stopping and those lights come on, be ready to slow down.”

Safety is one of Decatur Township's pillars, and student safety is not taken lightly. The district's buses were rated 98% on the first run-through on inspections.

“Safety is one of our pillars here at Decatur Township, and student safety is nothing we take shy. Our buses this year were rated out at 98% on the first run through on inspections, which is something we're proud of. It's one of the highest in Marion County. So, the stop arms will detour, obviously, a little problem that's global.”

Decatur Township schools are also looking for more bus drivers. The starting pay is $23 an hour.