Students in Governor Mifflin and Wilson School Districts can expect a safer, smarter return to school after the winter break, thanks to a new School Bus Safety Program. The districts are the latest to partner with BusPatrol, the nation’s leading provider of school bus stop-arm safety technology, to improve safety for students and tackle the pervasive issue of illegal school bus passing.
Starting January 6, 2025, all 110 buses across the two Berks County districts—53 in Governor Mifflin and 57 in Wilson—will be equipped with state-of-the-art stop-arm enforcement cameras. These cameras, powered by artificial intelligence, will capture video evidence of cars that fail to stop for school buses that are stopped to pick up or drop off students. This evidence is shared with law enforcement for review. Only law enforcement can decide whether to issue a citation.
Data from the program shows that over 90% of violators don’t illegally pass a bus a second time after receiving a ticket, demonstrating the program’s potential to change driver behavior.
“The safety of our students is our number one priority, and we fully support any effort that helps protect them,” said Dr. Chris Trickett, superintendent of the Wilson School District. “The school bus is just an extension of our school grounds, and this program is an important step in addressing the growing concern over unsafe driving around our buses. We’re excited to partner with BusPatrol to ensure our kids stay safe on their way to and from school.”
“Governor Mifflin is proud to partner with BusPatrol to modernize our school buses and keep kids safe during their daily commutes,” said Dr. Lisa Hess, superintendent. “This program has been proven to reduce reckless driving, which is especially important now during the winter months when visibility is lower and weather conditions can worsen.”
According to the National Association for State Directors of Pupil Transportation, there are over 45 million instances each year of motorists failing to stop for school buses with extended stop arms and flashing red lights—putting student lives at risk.
Justin Meyers, President and Chief Innovation Officer of BusPatrol, added, “It shouldn’t be—yet getting on and off the school bus is the most dangerous part of a child’s day. As a tech company with a public safety mission, we are proud to partner with Governor Mifflin and Wilson School Districts to expand our safety program in Pennsylvania and ensure that every child gets home safely each day.”
Governor Mifflin and Wilson join a growing list of Pennsylvania school districts, including Kutztown and Daniel Boone Area, that are successfully implementing BusPatrol’s stop-arm safety technology to protect students. BusPatrol’s technology is already deployed on more than 4,200 buses across the state, protecting over 200,000 students, and the company has an office located in Allentown.
