Radnor School District Plans High-Tech Cameras For Bus Safety

RADNOR, PA — Radnor School District officials asked township commissioners Monday to team up with the district to implement a new bus safety program to deter motorists from violating traffic laws.

Following a presentation by Brian Pawling, the district’s business administrator, the commissioners tabled a decision until a future meeting.

The cameras would film eight angles around the outside of the bus when it is stopped.

The safety program calls for installing cameras on 60 buses. The cameras would be provided by BusPatrol, a school bus safety technology company headquartered in Virginia.

The data is sent to BusPatrol. The results are sent to the township police for approval. BusPatrol issues the citations.

The penalties would be a civil violation of $300 to the owner of the vehicle with $250 going to the school district to defray the costs of the cameras, $25 to police, and $25 to a safety fund.

The goal is to start the ticketing program in 2023.

Pawling said the district has already worked out the agreement with BusPatrol, and is now working with the township to participate.

Police Chief Christopher B. Flanagan said the police will make it work.

“It’s uncharted territory,” the chief said. “We do not know the impact.”

The chief said after the program is in place for a year, he will have a better understanding of the amount of time involved.

Status of BusPatrol

Legislation passed in Pennsylvania in 2020 allows stop arm camera companies to enter contracts with school districts and police to work together on enforcement.

School districts throughout the region, including Phoenixville, Methacton, Garnet Valley and Spring-Ford, are using the technology.

Pawling said a pilot study in Allentown captured more than 200 drivers illegally passing school buses.

Moira Mulroney, board president, said she is aware of the safety issues, noting it was brought to her attention by local Boy Scouts.

Commissioner Sean Fahry expressed concern about the citations going to the owner of the car, not the driver.

“You are not changing the behavior of the person who did this,” he said.

Board member, Anna Maria Jones, responded that the owner of the vehicle would speak to the driver about the issue.

"I think it's a really good program," she said.

Pawling said these are the new options we have available by law to enhance bus safety for children.

Pawling estimated that about 200 citations will be issued each month.

Overall, he estimated, it would bring in $5,000 a month for police.

“The program is of no cost to the district or the taxpayers,” he said. “We are excited about this because we are concerned with the safety of the students.”