If it wasn’t already clear that drivers should stop for a school bus, it soon will be. Baltimore County officials announced on Monday, the first day of school for students, that new cameras will be installed on all buses to catch anyone who passes a bus when they aren’t supposed to.

“The overall goal of this program is to increase motorist awareness of students walking to and from school bus stops, and the importance of not passing a school bus picking up and dropping off students,” said Myriam Rogers, superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools.

She made the announcement at Timonium Elementary School as school buses were finishing their drop-offs. All the system’s school buses, nearly 1,000, will have the cameras. About 350 cameras have been installed already. The rest should be installed by October, a school system spokesperson said.

Approximately 80,000 students ride the bus.

The “high-definition” interior and exterior cameras will capture motorists who don’t stop for a bus while its red lights are flashing. The superintendent said school system leaders hear “horrifying stories” of cars speeding past buses every year.

The frequency in these incidents was even a shock to Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough. In a study his department conducted, 387 cars illegally passed school buses in one day.

For the next 30 days, drivers will be given warnings if they unlawfully pass a bus. After that, violators can expect a $250 fine.

Bryan Epps, head of the union that represents the school bus drivers, said this has been an issue for years. His members are excited to finally get the cameras.

Speeding drivers were also an issue with parents at Stoneleigh Elementary School last school year after a student was hit by a car. Parents called for speed cameras and speed bumps.

Some buses in the county already had cameras, but school officials say this is a significant upgrade.

Rogers said she doesn’t know the overall cost for the cameras, but said it will not be a burden to the school system.

“All expenses for the cameras, the GPS and other safety components will be fully funded from violation revenue,” she said.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.