Photo Courtesy of John Wesley Brett
Across the country, many schools are attaching surveillance cameras to the outside of the bus in an attempt to catch stop-arm violators and reduce the number of cars endangering students by speeding past a stopped bus. But, the question at the moment is whether these cameras are worth the investment, or if they will be ignored just as often as the large and easy-to-see stop signs.
Numerous studies have already shown that surveillance cameras can help reduce crime in some cases, but it isn’t applicable to every situation. But, David Poag argues the cameras have a real chance of cutting down on the number of stop-arm violations committed every year.
Poag argues that stop-arm violators can be broken down into three categories: the impatient violator, the distracted violator, and the uneducated violator. While it is doubtful we will ever get the number of stop-arm violations down to zero, Poag makes a good case for why the drivers fitting within the three groups will be affected by the newer cameras.
Impatient drivers will never go away, but it has been proven time and time again that impatient drivers are more likely to stay within the line of the law so long as they feel they are being observed or they are at risk of penalty. A percentage of impatient drivers will have second thoughts about breaking the law when they know it is more likely to come with a significant penalty attached. Currently, a large number of drivers don’t think they are likely to be punished for breaking stop-arm rules, so cameras are likely to demonstrate that the rule is being enforced more seriously.
Distracted violators are the drivers least likely to be deterred by the cameras because they simply aren’t paying enough attention to notice the stop sign or the camera until it is too late. Heck, they may not even see the bus. But, the cameras do allow these drivers to be held accountable and could potentially influence them to be more alert when behind the wheel.
The third group is made up of the surprising number of drivers who have no idea it is an offense to pass a stopped bus. The laws are now being taught in most driver’s ed courses, but that doesn’t make up for all the drivers who weren’t educated that way. Cameras and enforcement will make them more aware of the law. While public education is the best way to downsize the uneducated violators, the cameras also offer a way to show them the law is taken seriously.
In the long run, stop-arm cameras on buses pose a real challenge to drivers who fly past stopped buses. It would be reasonable to see the cameras on the majority of school buses throughout the US within a few years. But, whether or not you decide on investing in the technology now depends on affordability and what you will be using the bus for.
If you are largely doing group pick-ups and drop-offs, the stop-arm is likely to be used less and the camera might not be necessary. But, if you are running regular school routes, the cameras may add an extra protective step for the students.
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