PHOENIX — Redflex Traffic Systems®, the company that introduced photo-based safety technologies to American roads 25 years ago, is expanding its student safety division with the acquisition of SmartBus Live™.
Since 2008, the SmartBus Live safety camera program has helped school districts and municipalities monitor and deter drivers who illegally pass school buses while the stop arm is deployed. It will now operate under Redflex’s safety camera program, REDFLEX Student Guardian™.
“SmartBus brings in-depth experience in deploying safety technologies and executing programs that educate the public about risky driving behaviors,” said Redflex Chief Executive Karen Finley. “With our combined resources and talent, we will be able to provide school districts with the country’s preeminent automated enforcement solution for school bus safety.”
Former SmartBus Live Chief Executive Tom O’Connor will lead this new effort as president of Redflex Guardian, a wholly owned subsidiary of Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc.
“Joining forces was really a natural fit. Redflex shares our strong focus on improving safety for the 26 million children who rely on school bus transportation nationwide,” said O’Connor. “We can now expand our breadth of services to our existing customers and introduce our life-saving programs to new markets around the country.”
Currently, 10 states permit the use of automated enforcement on school bus stop arms to help protect children as they enter and exit the bus. Additional states are expected to follow suit in the near future.
REDFLEX Student Guardian has been designed to curb dangerous driving behaviors and enforce traffic laws on school bus routes that pose a high safety risk for children as they are load and unload the bus. The safety camera system is installed on the front and rear driver’s side of a school bus. It monitors traffic while the bus’ stop arm is deployed, leaving the bus driver free to focus on students. Evidence of violations, including high-definition video and high-resolution images, is submitted to local law enforcement to determine whether a citation is warranted.
With Student Guardian there is no upfront capital investment for cities or districts. The program is fully funded by violations.
To learn more about Student Guardian, visit www.redflexstudentguardian.com or contact O’Connor directly at toconnor@redflex.com.
About Redflex Traffic Systems®, Inc.
Redflex Traffic Systems®, a leader in road safety technology, operates more than 2,000 photo enforcement systems in more than 250 cities throughout the United States and Canada. With continuous development of new safety products, Redflex has been helping to reduce collisions and save lives for the past 25 years. For more information, visit www.redflex.com.
