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Moving Forward Together Toward a Battery-Electric Future

By: STN

As diesel school buses reach the end of their lifeline, many school districts are exploring battery-electric options as a cleaner, healthier, and more cost-effective alternative. While there may be initial concerns around workforce readiness, safety, and driver experience, the transition to electric school buses brings a host of benefits – and we’re here to help guide you through it.

Will I need to find new trained and skilled personnel to operate and maintain these new electric buses?

A successful shift to electric school buses does depend on a knowledgeable workforce, but that doesn’t mean starting from scratch. At RIDE, we offer a tiered training program that covers everything from basic maintenance to advanced technical diagnostics, designed to support your team every step of the way.

We understand that each school district has unique needs, which is why we customize our support to fit your specific requirements – whether through the RIDE customer service team or our network of authorized maintenance dealers. Our team is always just a phone call away, ready to guide you through the transition with personalized assistance every step of the way.

How do electric school buses improve rider safety?

Safety, especially battery safety, is our top priority. RIDE school buses are purpose-built and equipped with lithium-iron phosphate battery technology offering a reliable and secure solution for student transportation.

RIDE batteries undergo extensive testing including crushing, heat and puncture resistance, and come with a 12-year warranty. Through innovative technologies, rigorous testing, and comprehensive training programs, RIDE goes above and beyond to ensure battery safety – offering a level of assurance that sets us apart from our competitors in the market.

In addition to battery safety, RIDE electric school buses have successfully passed some of the most rigorous structural tests in the industry, including a side intrusion test and the Colorado Racking and Kentucky Pull Test, ensuring maximum structural integrity and safety.

Furthermore, RIDE buses are equipped with all key industry-standard safety components. Our engineering team works closely with suppliers to continuously enhance product safety from the rider’s perspective.

Will electric school buses affect driver performance?

Electric school buses are designed to enhance, not hinder, driver performance. Many drivers report a smoother and more responsive driving experience compared to diesel buses. With instant torque and regenerative braking, electric buses provide greater control and easier handling, particularly in stop-and-go traffic or on hilly routes.

The quiet operation of electric school buses heightens the driver’s ability to monitor the school bus and its passengers. The overall reduced noise level allows for clearer communication between the driver, students, and any adults on the bus, especially during emergencies or stops. The sustainable design also helps reduce harmful emissions, improving air quality for students – especially those with asthma or respiratory issues.

In addition, the quiet operation of electric buses helps reduce driver fatigue and allows for better focus. Without the constant rumble of a diesel engine, drivers can more easily hear and communicate with students, leading to a calmer and safer ride.

The shift to battery-electric school buses represents more than just a change in technology – it’s a commitment to cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future for our students. While the transition may come with questions, solutions are already in place to support every step of the journey. Let’s take the next step forward, together.

Learn more at ride.co. Read Jason Yan’s Q&A from the July issue of School Transportation News and co-CEO Patrick Duan’s Q&A from the June issue.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Moving Forward Together Toward a Battery-Electric Future appeared first on School Transportation News.

Cars Have Driver Airbags – Shouldn’t School Buses Have Them Too?

By: STN

School bus drivers are surrounded by driver airbags while they’re on their way to and from work. So, it’s fair to ask: why aren’t frontal airbags in school buses, too?

The simple answer? A car airbag just can’t be easily installed into a school bus. It takes an enormous amount of engineering. While it might sound like a simple upgrade, airbags are not one-size-fits-all. Every airbag system is finely tuned to the vehicle it’s installed in, from the size and shape of the vehicle to how fast it typically moves, even to how the seat and steering wheel are designed. Installing a system that wasn’t made for a school bus just wouldn’t work.

Click image to download 4Front info sheet.

That’s where 4Front comes in. 4Front by IMMI is specifically designed to give drivers extra protection during serious frontal crashes, specifically the kind of crash that would be severe enough to set off an airbag. Industries that already use frontal airbag protection have seen first-hand how this advanced safety system can save lives. Whether in a fire truck rushing to an emergency or a heavy-duty semi-truck crossing the country, IMMI’s 4Front airbags have helped protect drivers from serious injuries in the worst crashes. And now, that same safety technology is available to protect school bus drivers.

What Actually Goes into a School Bus Airbag?

Before any actual crash testing ever happens, IMMI engineers and crash safety experts spend 18-24 months developing and validating a new airbag system for school buses. That time is spent running through multiples stages of development including work like:

  • Simulation Testing: Computer modeling plays a critical role in the early stages of airbag system development. These simulations allow engineers to predict how a school bus and its driver would respond during a variety of frontal crash scenarios. By analyzing these virtual crash events, engineers can evaluate potential injuries, study how the body moves during impact, and fine-tune the design of the airbag system accordingly. This approach enables IMMI to test and improve safety performance efficiently, reducing the number of full vehicle crashes required, saving time and resources, and helping to ensure that the final system offers the best possible protection when deployed in the real world.
  • Sled Testing: Before a full school bus is ever crash tested, several tests are run using a specialized setup called a sled test. This test uses real bus parts, like the actual driver seat, seat belt, steering column, and steering wheel, mounted to a platform that simulates a crash. There are normally 3 to 5 runs to figure out the exact speeds where the airbag should or should not deploy. These are called “no fire” (airbag does not go off) and “must fire” (airbag does go off) speeds. Important things to look at during these tests are injury numbers and how the body moves (kinematics) to make sure the system protects the driver correctly. The test setup, or “sled buck,” is built by CAPE, the Center for Advanced Product Evaluation, IMMI’s own crash test and safety engineering partner.
  • Resonance Testing: Not every part of a school bus is an ideal location for a crash sensor. To ensure accurate performance, various mounting positions are tested to identify the most reliable spots for detecting impact. This process, known as resonance testing, helps confirm that the sensor can distinguish between a true crash event and normal road vibrations. Proper sensor placement is critical to ensure the airbag system deploys only when necessary, contributing to a dependable and effective safety system.
  • Barrier Testing: Now that all the simulations, initial sled tests run, and sensors mounted in the correct places, it’s time to crash a school bus! As part of the final validation process, barrier crash testing is conducted at CAPE to confirm the airbag system performs as intended in a variety of real-world crash conditions. Multiple barrier types are used to simulate different crash scenarios. Additional tests include the bus hitting the barrier at different angles (not just a head-on collision), to confirm that deployment occurs only in severe frontal crashes. Each test helps confirm that the 4Front airbag system responds the right way in serious crashes, giving drivers the protection they need, only when it’s needed.

This wraps up development for the airbag program for the school bus.

What Can You Do?

If you’re interested in learning more about 4Front airbags to better protect your drivers, here are a few steps you can take:

  • Talk to your transportation director about IMMI’s 4Front system
  • Contact your bus dealer or IMMI

Every driver deserves to go home safely. Let’s make sure all school bus drivers are protected, too.

Built to Work with Lap-Shoulder Belts

4Front is also designed to work hand-in-hand with another proven safety technology: lap-shoulder belts. More school buses are now being built with these belts because they help keep drivers and students securely in place during a crash, reducing the risk of serious injuries. When used together, lap-shoulder belts and 4Front airbags create a layered safety system that protects the driver from both initial and secondary impacts. If your bus has lap-shoulder belts, you’re already one step ahead. 4Front helps take it even further.

For more than 60 years, IMMI has been a leader in advancing occupant safety across transportation industries. From school buses and commercial trucks to ambulances and fire apparatuses, IMMI designs and manufactures safety systems trusted by OEMs and fleets around the world. With a deep focus on real-world protection and rigorous testing, IMMI has led the way in setting industry standards for seat belts, child seating, and advanced restraint technologies.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Cars Have Driver Airbags – Shouldn’t School Buses Have Them Too? appeared first on School Transportation News.

Automate to Elevate Safety & Fleet Management

By: STN

As 9-year-old Luke sat idly on the school bus to his after-school activity, anger swelled in a seat not far away. The animosity soon boiled over, initiating a loud and intense struggle between Luke and an older student.

Hearing the altercation, the driver immediately tapped her event marker, triggering automated actions from her contractor’s fleet management software. These actions would ultimately help the bus contractor resolve Luke’s event within minutes.

What actions were triggered? How did they facilitate a speedy resolution?

For answers, let’s look at ARMOR™ Software Suite, the contractor’s wireless, cloud-based fleet management tool, and the integrated REI surveillance system.* While the suite offers many automated features, the two triggered by the event marker involved event alerts and video downloading.

Automated Event Alerts

Seconds after the event marker’s activation, ARMOR auto-generated an alert and sent it to the contractor’s cellphone. Anxious about the alert, the contractor accessed ARMOR’s live look-in feature to assess the situation.*

The real-time, high-definition view from the onboard camera system revealed the irate older student standing over a much smaller Luke. While the incident appeared to have ended, Luke still cowered as if injured. The contractor immediately called the driver’s two-way radio to notify her about Luke’s condition, then returned to ARMOR to watch video of the entire incident.

Automated Video Downloads

Because ARMOR was configured to auto-download all event videos from vehicle DVRs, the contractor didn’t have to wait long to view it. What’s more, the video included padding and showed all actions before and after the altercation.

Within minutes of its occurrence, the contractor obtained full event details. A misunderstanding between Luke and the older student resulted in repeated punches to Luke’s head, leaving him dazed and sore. Because of ARMOR’s automation and its ability to produce video quickly, the suite saved the contractor hours of research. More importantly, it showed the hits sustained by Luke, prompting an urgent concussion assessment.

Think how these automated tools would benefit your operation. Would your team like to forget about hard drive retrieval? Be more proactive in minimizing bullying?

How would they react to even more automated features, such as:

  • Diagnostic warnings/updates about engines and REI surveillance systems*
  • Daily activity reports about vehicles
  • Status notifications about vehicle features/operations
  • Stop-arm violation alerts*

Discover how ARMOR’s automated capabilities can enhance fleet safety, increase efficiency and reduce stress on your team. Visit radioeng.com to learn more, watch a demo or contact us.

*Requires additional hardware and/or specific cellular service plans. Ask for details.


The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Automate to Elevate Safety & Fleet Management appeared first on School Transportation News.

Change Driver Behavior, Protect Students: The Smarter, Stronger Solution to Protecting Students in the Danger Zone

By: STN

Every day, drivers illegally pass stopped school buses, ignoring extended stop arms and flashing red lights, putting our children in immediate danger.

The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimates over 251,000 illegal pass-bys happen daily. Projected over a 180-day school year, that’s 45.2 million times our children are at risk of injury or worse. These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to protect students.

The Safe Fleet Illegal Passing Suite is the only solution designed to tackle the stop-arm violation epidemic from every angle. Prevention, proactive protection, and enforcement work together to safeguard students in the school bus Danger Zone.

  • Preventive: The Safe Fleet Illuminated Stop Arm™ and Driver Alert Device ensure drivers see and recognize a stopped school bus, reducing the likelihood of illegal pass-bys before they happen.
  • Proactive: Our Predictive Stop Arm® (PSA) detects approaching vehicles that are not likely to stop in time and warns students to stay back, adding an extra layer of real-time protection. It’s the only solution of its kind that engages with students directly, giving them agency over their well-being and extra seconds to keep out of harm’s way.
  • Responsive: The Safe Fleet Stop Arm Violation Enforcement System™ (SAVES) captures high-quality video, photographic and location-based evidence of illegal pass-bys––including context footage from the right-hand side of the bus––and packages it for citation, holding violators accountable and driving long-term behavior change.

School bus safety technology should do more than just react. It should prevent incidents, protect students in real time, and hold violators accountable. That’s how we curb the illegal passing epidemic.

The solutions in the Illegal Passing Suite work together to create a protective umbrella within the school bus’ Danger Zone. At the heart of it is SAVES.

Why SAVES Stands Out

Superior Performance with Unmatched Accuracy Rates

SAVES delivers big results while requiring minimal school administration effort by helping to keep students safe, shaping long-term positive driver behavior, and providing operational insights. With its AI-powered analytics, SAVES consistently delivers greater than 98% violation/plate-detection accuracy in real-world settings, giving districts clear, reliable evidence and full ownership of their data to support training, enforcement, and safety improvement.

Seamless Evidence Management with the SAVES Cloud Interface

Unlike competitive offerings, Safe Fleet provides the school district with full access to their data should the district want to mine the information for insight. And the Safe Fleet cloud interface streamlines the process – making it as simple as possible.

  • The Stop Arm Enforcement Application Dashboard – Provides key metrics such as the number of violations over a select period, location data, and emerging trends. The district can use this information to change bus stop locations and work with law enforcement to diffuse hot zones.

System performance stays reliable without adding a burden on the district. Safe Fleet handles updates remotely to keep everything running smoothly and safe.

  • Device Management – Safe Fleet remotely updates SAVES devices for districts, ensuring optimal functionality without disrupting operations.

Reliability That Stands the Test of Time

Safety technology needs to be reliable. There’s no room for failure when student lives are on the line. The Illegal Passing Suite is built with durability and consistency in mind, delivering dependable performance across all its components. Every piece of the suite is designed to work seamlessly, ensuring school buses are equipped with solutions that function when they matter most.

Evidence That Holds Up

The effectiveness of enforcement depends on the quality of the evidence collected. The SAVES system captures comprehensive evidence packages that consist of high-resolution video, photographic evidence, location-based and context-specific data with incredible accuracy, helping eliminate instances in which violations go unchecked. With built-in AI and automated evidence packaging, SAVES delivers clear and thorough documentation that streamlines the citation process and reinforces driver accountability.

Support and Resources at Every Step

Adopting new technology is easier when the right support is available. Safe Fleet provides expert guidance throughout every stage of SAVES onboarding, including installation, implementation, and developing community outreach programs. We handle all the technical aspects, including violation capture, processing, and citation management, so districts can stay focused on student safety.

Better Safety Starts Here

Young boy in front of yellow school bus waiting to cross street.

Creating a safer environment for students takes a complete approach. With the Illegal Passing Suite and SAVES, school districts can prevent dangerous pass-bys, protect students in real time, and hold violators accountable with high-quality evidence.

Safer buses. Smarter enforcement. Stronger results. That’s the Safe Fleet difference. 

Learn more at www.safefleet.net.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Change Driver Behavior, Protect Students: The Smarter, Stronger Solution to Protecting Students in the Danger Zone appeared first on School Transportation News.

‘I Can’t Go Any Longer Without [Transfinder],’ York CSD Director Says

By: STN

Nestled 20 miles south of Rochester in upstate New York, the York Central School District may be small in size, but it’s making big strides in transportation innovation under the guidance of director of transportation, Tracey Proctor.

With nearly two decades of experience in school transportation, Proctor has brought a fresh, tech-forward approach to the district since her arrival four years ago — a move that has significantly improved efficiency, safety and confidence for both drivers and students.

When Proctor joined York CSD, she came equipped not just with experience, but also a clear vision: she needed better tools to run a more modern and responsive transportation department. Having worked with Transfinder solutions at a previous district, Proctor knew she didn’t want to operate without them.

“As soon as I started, when it came contract time, I said, ‘I really need this [Transfinder technology]. I can’t go any longer without it,’” she recalls.

At the time, York was operating the old-fashioned, “very manual,” Proctor said. “A lot of notebooks. That was it.”

But she knew what she was missing without having Transfinder’s award-winning routing solution.

“Once I started with Transfinder, you just can’t go back,” Proctor said.

Today, York CSD uses Transfinder’s awards-winning Routefinder PLUS and driver app Wayfinder, a combination that has transformed the way the district manages its transportation. York CSD transports just over 400 students daily, with eight large bus runs and eight out-of-district van runs. Like many districts, small and large alike, resources and staffing flexibility are critical.

“We have 18 drivers, and right now we’re doing very well with staffing,” Proctor said, joking: “Please don’t share that with anyone!” Still, the district relies on flexibility, with mechanics and even Proctor herself stepping in to drive when needed. That’s where Wayfinder has made a tremendous difference.

Wayfinder has helped the district when assigning routes to new drivers or substitutes who may not be familiar with the run.

“I don’t print routes anymore,” she said. “I just click on the Wayfinder and say the driver, ‘There it is.’ It’s done and I know that it’s correct.”

The technology is also helping shape the future of York’s driving staff. Those used to driving small vans with fewer students are appreciative of the Routefinder PLUS-built routes displayed on Wayfinder as they travel unfamiliar terrain with more students.

The ease of use of Wayfinder and Routefinder PLUS has also made an impression. Proctor recently completed her Wayfinder training and described the experience as a positive experience.

“I don’t know my way around a computer very well,” she said. “Everyone at Transfinder has been very helpful. They take their time with me. I should say, they speak my language. They didn’t speak ‘technical talk.’ The classes were very, very down-to-earth and I was able to understand everything that was put in front of me.”

That kind of client-centered support, combined with reliable and intuitive software, is what motivated Proctor to bring Transfinder technology to York in the first place.

Looking ahead, Proctor is considering how she can use Transfinder technology even more strategically, including using Wayfinder in recruiting. “I never have in the past, but now that I know how it works and how it helps the drivers, I definitely will use it for recruitment,” she said.

To learn more about Routefinder PLUS, Wayfinder or Transfinder’s suite of solutions, visit Transfinder.com, email getplus@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post ‘I Can’t Go Any Longer Without [Transfinder],’ York CSD Director Says appeared first on School Transportation News.

Why Pennsylvania Transportation Director Declares: ‘I’m a Big Fan of Transfinder’

By: STN

When Laura Neiswonger stepped into her role as transportation director at Redbank Valley School District less than a year ago, she was handed a complex system with a fast-approaching deadline.

Officially assuming the role in May 2023, just a few months before the new school began, she needed to make critical decisions fast—and she turned to Transfinder to help reinvent how transportation operates in the rural western Pennsylvania district.

“I got my access to Transfinder on Aug. 1,” Neiswonger said, “and school started Aug. 21 and we were fully implemented by that time.”

With more than 1,000 students to manage, including those in non-public schools, Neiswonger needed a tool that could give her better control over her entire transportation operation. She was not satisfied with the district’s existing transportation product – “It was pretty cumbersome” – and began asking neighboring Pennsylvania districts about the solutions they used.

At the same time, Neiswonger would speak to other vendors in the school transportation space. The one common theme was each vendor trying to tear down Transfinder. It was a turnoff.

“I said, ‘I want you to tell me why I should use you? What do you have to offer?’” Neiswonger said. Instead, other companies “kept putting down Transfinder. In my mind, that was a negative approach and I kind of stopped [one representative] in the middle of a sentence. I’m here to ask what you are and that basically ended the conversation because she had nothing else to say.”

With Transfinder it was a different story. First, after attending a Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) conference, she kept hearing positive things about Transfinder from attendees. Transfinder kept coming up during training sessions at the PASBO conference.

On her first day back at the office she told her superintendent and business manager it would be a good idea to see a Transfinder demo. Next thing she knew, a Transfinder sales representative was calling her.

“And that’s where it all began. Transfinder did a much better job at portraying what they had to offer without putting down any other company,” she said.

Neiswonger liked what she heard and saw from Transfinder.

“It just blew my mind. It is easy and intuitive,” she said. “And the fact that I was able to implement it in just three weeks goes to show you just how amazing Transfinder is.”

She quickly moved from exploration to acting decisively.

Redbank Valley, with its 44 vehicles and 89 routes, covers a large, rural area. The routing complexities range from geocoding unmapped rural students to navigating unpredictable infrastructure delays like bridge closures.

“At the beginning of the year we had several bridge projects within the district that caused significant delays to morning and afternoon traffic,” she said. “Once these bridge projects are over, we’ll be able to shave five to 10 minutes off these routes.”

Neiswonger leans heavily on the award-winning Routefinder PLUS to overcome these hurdles.

“Everything is going great,” she said.

For example, setting up nightly and midday imports from the district’s student information system allows for near real-time updates to routing assignments. Having a scheduled midday import has been a game changer.

“It automatically pulls from my SIS into Routefinder PLUS and that allows me to make changes in the afternoon,” she said.

Routefinder PLUS also helps her address any concerns in her district. For example, one parent of a special needs student who had insisted his child’s bus ride was an hour and 20 minutes was able to see his child’s time on the bus was not that long.

One of the standout aspects of Transfinder’s suite for Neiswonger is Viewfinder, which provides visibility to administrators and secretaries across all buildings. It’s been especially helpful in those chaotic first weeks of school.

“The whole first week of school there were only two missed buses the first week. With 1,000 students transported, I call that a win.”

Viewfinder also revealed gaps in previous processes—like the case of a student who had been riding the wrong bus for two years without anyone noticing.

With Viewfinder, the secretary could see the discrepancy. It turned out the family had moved and never told the school, and the bus driver just kept doing what they’d always done,

“Drivers tend to do what they want because they’ve been doing it forever,” she said. Neiswonger explained. This tool helped everyone get back on track.

And when Neiswonger was away at a conference, she used Viewfinder to print ridership reports for the secretaries for quick reference as a backup.

Meanwhile, Stopfinder, launched mid-year as a soft rollout, is proving to be another essential resource for the community, letting parents know bus stop information as well as information on a bus run.

One day when Neiswonger was supposed to be off, she started getting calls about a road closure. From home she was above to divert buses and notify parents that their children would be arriving home late.

“It’s been really nice to have that tool,” she said. “When a bus is delayed for any reason, I can push out notifications.” Neiswonger also likes the feedback she receives with two-way communication. “I get messages from parents letting me know so-and-so is not going to ride this week, you don’t have to stop at my house.”

Stopfinder is expected to play a starring role this summer when Neiswonger sends out bus assignments. Rather than fielding hundreds of calls, she plans to direct parents to the app.

Neiswonger said she is pleased with the innovative technology Transfinder has created and happy with the support the company provides.

“Anytime I needed anything I was getting a call in minutes,” she said. “If I need something, I’ll call and someone will pick up the phone.”

It’s why she is quick to add: “I’m a big fan of Transfinder.”

To learn more about Routefinder PLUS or Transfinder’s suite of solutions, visit Transfinder.com, email getplus@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Why Pennsylvania Transportation Director Declares: ‘I’m a Big Fan of Transfinder’ appeared first on School Transportation News.

(Free White Paper) Developing Your Plan for an Electric Bus Fleet

By: STN

Transitioning a fleet of school buses from diesel to electric power can offer dramatic benefits.

eBuses (electric school buses) have the potential to significantly reduce not only noise and air pollution throughout the school district, but also the fleet’s total cost of ownership (TCO). However, the road to electrification requires careful navigation around an assortment of planning pitfalls. Every aspect of the project is complex, from planning and financing to implementation and operations.

For districts that lack the internal resources and expertise to maximize benefits across all these areas, ENGIE North America offers a turnkey eBus solution. ENGIE is the world’s number-one provider of energy services, with decades of experience supporting school districts on sustainable energy initiatives.

Read on to learn how we’re helping K-12 school districts optimize the value of their eBus transition.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

The post (Free White Paper) Developing Your Plan for an Electric Bus Fleet appeared first on School Transportation News.

Doubled Vision: Covering Your Danger Zone

By: STN

Twice a year, the district reminds students about danger zone safety rules during its bus evacuation drills. Yet, a recent incident involving Henry confirmed that words and training are not enough to prevent life-threatening events.

Henry, an eager pre-K student, arrived late at his bus stop one day due to a power outage at home. Like any excited youngster, he ran to board his bus. Without thinking, he crossed in front of the bus and out of the driver’s sight.

Was it dumb luck that Henry eventually caught his driver’s attention? Or did the driver have an onboard assistant to thank? Read on for the answers.

1. The 360° Advantage

A second set of eyes can be invaluable for student safety – a statement that Henry’s driver can attest to. Because of REI’s 360° HD Camera System and its expansive views, he spotted Henry in the danger zone and promptly braked, preventing an unspeakable tragedy.

Now, this system provides full coverage of bus surroundings via bird’s-eye and three-dimensional views. For drivers, that means unobstructed, real-time views of students, objects or vehicles that may be hidden from sight. Henry’s driver uses it at bus stops and during turns and lane changes to avoid collisions. Your drivers would likely appreciate the extra visibility too.

But the district didn’t stop at just one solution to improve danger zone safety. They doubled up by adding a vision-based AI tool.

2. The Violation Detector

An estimated 251,000+ stop-arm violations occur daily around the U.S.* To oversee the stop-arm zone and deter illegal passings by repeat offenders, the district installed an REI AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera System on every bus.

The system’s vision-based AI camera sees vehicles enter its detection zone while the stop arm is extended. It then triggers the license plate cameras into action and facilitates an automated report in REI’s ARMOR™ Software Suite.** The report allows the district to quickly review violators’ license plates and data before sharing the information with law enforcement if needed.

Imagine both systems at work for your district. Your drivers would likely feel more at ease with 360-degree danger zone views. In addition, you would likely feel more relaxed knowing an automated detection system monitors your danger zone for stop-arm violators. A definite win-win for students and your district.

Visit radioeng.com to watch a 360° System demo or learn more about our AI Stop-Arm Camera System and ARMOR Software Suite.

*2024 survey results, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services
**Additional hardware and software required.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Doubled Vision: Covering Your Danger Zone appeared first on School Transportation News.

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