School buses will need surround-view cameras

Thunder Bay -- A federal government initiative to improve school bus safety is getting a warm response from Craig Murphy, who oversees student transportation in the Thunder Bay area.

Transport Canada announced Monday that it will mandate surround-view camera systems, which consist of a series of externally mounted cameras that allow bus drivers to ensure no one is around the vehicle before it starts moving.

"We're pleased to hear they've chosen this route," said Murphy, manager of Thunder Bay Student Transportation Services.

Starting November 1, 2027, all new buses must be equipped with surround-view systems, making Canada the first country in the world to mandate the technology.

The measure follows a report released in 2020 by the School Bus Safety Task Force, which recommended strengthening protection for children outside school buses, as they face the greatest risk there.

"On school buses, we often talk about danger zones, the areas a few feet from the bus that students must always stay away from. There are many mirrors on the bus, and drivers try to see these areas, but unfortunately, the rear of the bus is one of the areas they can't really see," Murphy said.

"This system will enhance the ability to monitor anyone standing within a few feet of the bus in all 360 degrees."

Murphy said school buses are already the safest vehicles on the road, with safety features that protect students both inside and outside, but he expects this new measure will be welcomed across the industry.

"Of course, if there's technology that can improve this, I don't think anyone would be unhappy," he said.

At the start of the new school year, Murphy also advocated for cameras on stop arms to identify drivers who don't stop for school buses, which police say is a common problem in Thunder Bay.

He noted Monday that recent statistics indicate the trend is heading in the wrong direction.

During the 2023/2024 school year, there were an average of 6.6 incidents per day of vehicles passing stopped buses.

By the halfway point of the 2024/2025 school year, that rate had risen to an average of 7.7 incidents per day.

"Passing a stopped school bus is illegal. If you won't stop because the law requires it, at least stop because you know it could put a child's life at risk," Murphy said.

Source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/school-buses-will-require-surround-view-cameras-10176825