Don't Pass the Bus in Trumbull

Attention potential scofflaws: Don't pass Trumbull's school buses. You may be caught on camera. 

"Students around Trumbull who rely on school transportation now have an extra layer of protection as they enter and exit the bus: REDFLEX Student Guardian®, an automated safety camera system for monitoring and deterring drivers who illegally pass school buses, endangering the lives of children," according to REDFLEX statement. "There is currently one bus installed with the Student Guardian technology, monitoring the most problematic routes." 

“The Town of Trumbull welcomes the opportunity to work with the Trumbull Police Department and school district to enhance and improve safety for our students by utilizing the Student Guardian program. We are excited to join nearly 30 Connecticut school districts who have already adopted this innovative technology,” said Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst.

The Student Guardian safety camera system is installed six feet behind the stop arm on the driver’s side of a school bus. It monitors traffic while the bus’ stop arm and red lights are displayed, leaving the bus driver free to focus on students.

A camera is triggered to capture data as a vehicle passes the bus while children are entering and exiting the bus.  Evidence of violations, including video and high-resolution images, is uploaded to local law enforcement to determine whether a citation is warranted, according to the company.

If an officer determines a violation occurred, the registered owner of the vehicle is mailed a citation for passing a standing school bus. The registered owner will have an opportunity to review images and video of the violation online.

“The Trumbull Police Department is committed to the safety and well-being of all our residents, especially the children in our community. Therefore, we are very proud to join the Town Administration and Board of Education to support the Student Guardian initiative,” said Chief Thomas H. Kiely. “This technology provides another layer of protection for our students as they are entering and exiting the school bus.  We urge all Trumbull drivers to be patient around school busesand wait to proceed until the stop arm is no longer extended.” 

The fine for passing a school bus in Trumbull is $450.  Redflex Traffic Systems®, Inc., the provider of Student Guardian, has reached an agreement with the town to operate the program without any upfront costs. It is fully funded by the fines from violations. 

According to a 2013 study by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, 29 states found more than 85,000 vehicles illegally passed 108,000 school buses in one day. That represents more than 15 million illegal passes nationally in a typical 180-day school year, the company reported.

“Student Guardian is an extremely valuable tool school districts can use to protect kids who ride the bus. It’s unrealistic to think law enforcement can patrol hundreds of bus routes on their own every day,” said Thomas O’Connor, president of Redflex’s student safety division, Redflex Student Guardian. “Not only do the safety cameras monitor and deter drivers from breaking the law, they raise community awareness about school bus safety in general.” 

To learn more about Student Guardian, visit www.redflexstudentguardian.com.