The District of Columbia is adding cameras to the stop arms of school buses for additional defense against drivers illegally passing them.
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education and the D.C. Department of Transportation have already installed the cameras on 25 city school buses, officials said last week.
Monday marked the start of a warning period for local drivers. If they’re caught passing a stopped school bus, they’ll receive an alert and explanation of the new policy. After June 29, violators will be fined $500.
“We are committed to the safety of all our students, every day, particularly the thousands of students with disabilities who receive bus transportation to access their education,” Acting DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum said in a release, adding that the cameras aim to “eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.”
City buses transport more than 4,100 students every day. Officials didn’t say if they plan to add cameras to additional school buses in the future. The D.C. school bus fleet has more than 600 vehicles, according to WTOP-FM.