State Officials Hope to Extend Bus Stop Arm Camera Grant Program

(KDLM/MNN)- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is asking the Minnesota Legislature to extend the grant program for school bus stop-arm camera systems. Director Mike Hanson says 19 schools and bus companies received grants this week.

“By the time we go through our initial allocation of just under $14.7 million we’ll have about 60 percent of the bus fleet in Minnesota equipped with these cameras,” says Hanson. “Drivers need to pay attention and not let impatience get the best of them near a school bus picking up or dropping off kids. Driving distracted or thinking you can quickly drive around a bus could kill or seriously injure a child. What a horrific, easily preventable consequence. Drive smart and help keep our youngest Minnesotans safe.”

Hanson says they’re hoping for additional funding to go after the remaining 40 percent of school buses. The cameras take photos of vehicles disobeying extended stop arms.

Last week, OTS announced nearly $1.4 million in grants to help keep students safe as they get on and off school buses.