STOP! Capital Region School Bus Cameras Aimed At Catching Illegal Drivers

School buses in Albany are getting a big upgrade designed to keep kids safer on their rides to and from school.

The district has teamed up with Bus Patrol to install smart cameras on every bus. These cameras, powered by artificial intelligence, can spot drivers who ignore the flashing red lights and stop arm.

The technology, known as Ava, is built to recognize what’s happening on the road. It can tell the difference between a parked car, a moving vehicle, and other objects nearby. Since it’s linked directly to the bus, it always knows when students are getting on or off.

Outfitting each bus costs around $10,000, but schools don’t have to pay for it. Neither do taxpayers. Instead, the program funds itself because violators who get caught are the ones footing the bill.

The issue is bigger than many people realize. State numbers show that over 50,000 drivers illegally pass stopped school buses in New York every day.

The goal of this initiative is to hold those drivers accountable and cut down on dangerous behavior. Other districts that have already installed the cameras have seen strong results, with most first-time offenders never making the mistake again.

For now, Albany is giving drivers a short grace period. Warnings will be issued instead of fines, but that changes on October 20th. After that, anyone who passes a stopped bus will face a $250 penalty. It’s a simple but powerful reminder: stop for the bus and keep kids safe.