FREDERICK, MD – Students in Maryland can feel safer on the school bus. Private schools are now allowed to put cameras on their buses to catch drivers who don’t stop when kids are getting on or off.
“I think this law will help many people to understand that when a bus is stopped, there are going to be kids around the bus. They could be crossing the street. They could be bolting to a certain place,” said James Tucker, superintendent at the Frederick Campus of the Maryland School for the Deaf.
Tucker like the idea of having cameras on the buses that bring students to the campus.
“All of the counties provide bus transportation for our students, so I’m really looking forward to all of the buses being equipped with the new cameras,” Tucker said.
Under the law, the cameras can capture either of the license plates. Drivers in Maryland who pass school buses with their lights flashing can be fined up to $250 dollars.
Last year, Maryland school districts reported 7,200 drivers passed school buses loading or unloading kids in one day alone. Delegate Patrick Hogan sponsored the new law and hopes it can keep children in the state safe.
“There have been tragedies in other states where kids have been struck by drivers passing school buses, and hopefully this bill will keep that from happening here in Maryland. We don’t want those tragedies to happen in Maryland,” said Hogan, (R) – Frederick County.
Hogan’s daughter rides the school bus each day, and he thinks the law will encourage drivers to stop for her and other school children.
“I think once drivers start getting these citations and once people start being aware that these cameras are on the buses, it’ll really crack down on drivers passing school buses,” Hogan said.
Hogan was at the bill signing last week, when Governor Martin O’Malley gave it the green light in hopes of preventing another tragedy in the state.
To read the law, click here.