ATLANTA — On August 8, 2013, Blue Bird Corporation and RedFlex Student Guardian announced that Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) in Georgia has contracted to use its camera system to monitor and detect drivers who illegally pass school buses, endangering the lives of children as they enter and exit the bus. Located in the Atlanta area, GCPS is the largest school district in Georgia and the 12th largest in the nation.
The Gwinnett County Public Schools’ agreement allows the district to operate the Student Guardian system without any upfront costs to the district, city or state. The program is fully funded by violations.
Available from your local Blue Bird Dealer, Blue Bird Parts and Service is a preferred supplier of the popular RedFlex Student Guardian camera system. The Student Guardian safety camera system consists of a single enclosure installed approximately six feet behind the stop-arm, monitoring traffic in both directions.
The system is activated when the bus’ stop arm and amber lights are displayed and children are entering or exiting the bus, leaving the bus driver free to focus on students. Evidence of potential violations, including video and photos, is submitted to local law enforcement for final determination as to whether a citation is warranted.
“We applaud Gwinnett County Public Schools for adopting a technology that promotes safety,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “We are pleased to offer products like the RedFlex Student Guardian stop-arm camera system that enhance student safety and can be installed on all bus brands. It’s a great system and we expect more and more school districts to install this technology on their school buses going forward.”
“Gwinnett County Public Schools had many options for a stop-arm enforcement provider,” said Thomas O’Connor, president of RedFlex Student Guardian. “We’re honored that Gwinnett considered us the most reliable partner and we’re excited to work together on their student safety program. The Student Guardian program is already operating in five Georgia school districts, with another 65 programs operating throughout the United States. We are confident the program will serve as a deterrent in Gwinnett County, thereby increasing safety for Gwinnett County Public School students.”
According to a 2012 study by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, bus drivers on about 100,000 buses in 28 states reported more than 88,000 illegal passes in one day, representing more than 16 million illegal passes throughout the school year. The use of automated stop-arm enforcement to combat illegal passing is currently enabled in eight states. Additional states are considering new legislation to support this form of enforcement.
For more information regarding Blue Bird’s complete line of school buses, parts and service, visit your local Blue Bird dealer or www.blue-bird.com www.RedFlexStudentGuardian.com
About Blue Bird
Blue Bird offers a complete line of Type A, C and D school buses in a variety of options and configurations. For more than 85 years, Blue Bird Corporation has continued to set industry standards with its innovative design and manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, Blue Bird provides comprehensive financial solutions through Blue Bird Capital Services. Today, Blue Bird has more than 1,500 employees, Georgia-based manufacturing facilities, an extensive network of dealers, parts and service facilities throughout North America. Its global presence can be seen in more than 60 countries through sales into Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. www.blue-bird.com
