Danbury Equips School Buses With Stop-Arm Cameras To Deter Illegal Passing

DANBURY, CT — Danbury officials have launched a new school bus safety program aimed at curbing the number of drivers who pass stopped buses, a move they say will better protect students traveling to and from school.

The program, developed in partnership with technology company BusPatrol, equips all the more than 160 buses in the district with cameras that record vehicles illegally passing when red lights are flashing and stop-arms extended. The system goes into effect Aug. 26, the first day of school.

Mayor Roberto Alves said the initiative followed reports that drivers were ignoring stop signals multiple times each day. “The safety of our students is paramount,” Alves said. “We had to do more for our kids, and technology allows us to do that.”

BusPatrol’s AI-powered enforcement system captures license plates, and potential violations are reviewed before citations are issued. The company funds the program at no cost to the city, schools or taxpayers, with penalties paid by violators.

Motorists who fail to stop for a school bus in Danbury face a $250 fine, the maximum allowed under Connecticut law.

Superintendent Dr. Kara Casimiro said she expects the program to provide “long-term safety improvements for our students and drivers.”

A statewide study found cameras on 74 buses recorded nearly 10,000 violations in six months, or about 75 per school day. BusPatrol president Justin Meyers said most drivers who receive a violation do not repeat the offense.