New York School Buses Getting Stop Arm Cameras to Catch Drivers Passing Illegally

It's about time! School buses in New York are finally getting stop-arm cameras, to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses, putting students at risk.

Governor Cuomo signed the new law Tuesday that also has a $250 fine for anyone caught on camera passing a stopped bus.

"No parent should ever have to worry their child's bus ride is anything other than safe and easy," Governor Cuomo said. "By signing this measure into law, we are providing school districts the tools they need to hold reckless drivers accountable."

Hundreds of drivers illegally pass stopped school buses every day. A 2016 survey by The New York State Association for Pupil Transportation showed 618 school bus drivers reported being illegally passed 431 times. When applied to the over 50,000 school buses in the state, it'd be nearly 35,000 times a vehicle illegally passes a bus in ONE DAY!

It's happened in central New York. In March, a 13 year old student was injured after being hit by a car illegally passing a bus in Annsville. In May, a Norwich bus driver was hailed a hero for saving another student from being hit by car. Samantha Call, grabbed the student's shirt to stop him from stepping in front of the car passing on the wrong side when the red lights were flashing.

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