School Bus Safety Program Starts 3rd Year In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —With the Bensalem Township School District becoming the first to start the new school year on Monday in Lower Bucks County, the school buses are back —along with their cameras.

The Bensalem Township Police Department, in conjunction with the school district, is continuing its school bus red light camera program for the third year.

Bensalem Police said they've seen a 15 percent reduction in red light violations from the 2022-2023 school year (5,289 citations issued) to the 2023-2024 school year (4,477 citations issued).

"This is a positive trend to keep our children safe, but we remain deeply concerned about the high number of drivers that still fail to stop for a school bus loading and unloading of students," police said.

Bensalem Police will continue issuing $300 civil violations to the registered owners of vehicles that fail to stop.

Police will also conduct directed patrols in various township locations to combat the ongoing issue.

The top three locations for these violations are the 2800 block of Knights Road, the 3000 block of Bristol Road, and the 1500 block of Bristol Pike.

Police are reminding drivers that the 2800 block of Knights Road is not divided by a barrier, and they must stop for a bus with flashing red lights on the other side of the roadway.

Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo, Public Safety Director William McVey, and Bensalem School Superintendent Samuel Lee are committed to continuing this vital program to change driver behavior and keep the number of violations trending downward.