PEABODY, MA — A data-collection pilot program that will put cameras on the arms of some school bus stop signs to gauge compliance with the state law requiring oncoming drivers to stop for students when they are extended is coming to Peabody after the School Committee voted to back Mayor Ted Bettencourt’s plans for the program on Tuesday night.
Spurred by three incidents this fall where students were hit when drivers passed school buses stopped to discharge or pick up children in the city, stakeholders held a series of meetings in recent months that led to the agreement with the company BusPatrol to administer the pilot program starting next year.
“We had a couple of incidents in the city earlier this year that could have been tragic,” Bettencourt, also the School Committee Chair, told the Committee of the incidents that, while alarming, did not result in critical injuries. “A couple of students in a couple of areas of the city near some crosswalks had some extremely close calls. Too dangerous, too concerning, for us not to take some action.”
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Under the pilot program, the cameras will be used to collect data — which the school and Peabody Police Department can use to determine the extent of the problem and locations in the city where it is worst and that need further patrols.
Barring the enaction of a state law that has been stalled on Beacon Hill for more than a decade, the camera footage itself cannot be used to issue a citation for drivers. However, Bettencourt said he believes the footage could help finally push the legislation along to pass the law.
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“This bill has been stagnant at the State House for 10 years,” he said. “We are trying to see if we can use the data we collect here from BusPatrol to make a push to make that a statewide program, a state law.
“I think it’s necessary. A (critical) incident would be devastating in so many ways. We think this could help. We think that we want to lead that charge. It would be a great opportunity for Peabody to step up, help our community recognize some of the dangerous areas that we have in the city, and then to help galvanize some momentum to try to have (camera enforcement) pass as state law.”
Representatives from BusPatrol said the pilot program will be free to the district for the first year as a means to help push the legislation. They said, if enacted, that revenue from the citations could be used to pay for the continued use of the cameras.
They added that they have programs or pilot programs running in 15 states with the first year of citations showing between 20 and 30 percent reductions in incidents.
Peabody parent Maria Scheri started an online campaign called STOP — Stop The Operator from Passing — to increase awareness of the issue, police presence around frequent student crossings and advocate for pushing for the state law.
“I think you will find this very beneficial not only for Peabody but for all the kids of Massachusetts,” she said after Tuesday night’s vote passage.
Bettencourt said the cameras are the next step after the district embarked on an information campaign to remind people of the law and the dangers of not adhering to it following the September and October close calls.
“We’ve worked on some short-term improvements with signage and lighting and opening things up and that’s helped a little bit,” he said. “But we view this as a bigger problem because I think every school in the state has this issue.”
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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