New York's Onondaga County and Verra Mobility prioritize student safety with one of the state's most extensive school bus safety programs

Core Points - Verra Mobility Corporation has partnered with Onondaga County, New York, to implement an advanced school bus stop arm safety program aimed at reducing illegal passing of stopped school buses and enhancing student safety [1][4] - The program will equip over 500 school buses with stop arm safety camera technology to document and report vehicles that illegally pass stopped buses, providing critical evidence for law enforcement [2][5] - The initiative is expected to cover six school districts, impacting more than 20,000 students and over 40 schools, with a phased rollout planned for the 2025/2026 school year [3][8] Program Implementation - The program will utilize advanced AI integration and a full-service solution to ensure effective implementation, alongside a public education campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses [4][6] - The initiative will have no upfront costs for Onondaga County or the school districts, as it will be funded through citations issued for illegal passing [6] - Verra Mobility's technology has shown a 98% compliance rate among drivers who received violations, with community awareness programs leading to over a 50% reduction in citations [6] Stakeholder Support - Superintendents from participating school districts have expressed strong support for the initiative, emphasizing its importance in enhancing student safety and holding drivers accountable [9][10][12] - The program aims to change driver behavior and ultimately save lives by enforcing traffic laws related to school bus safety [5][10] - Comprehensive training will be provided to district personnel and local law enforcement to maximize the program's effectiveness [7]