School bus stop arm cameras could soon be reality in region

Regional council is considering a motion that would add some extra eyes to school buses.

An update was provided to council on an idea to add cameras to stop arms on buses throughout the region, an idea that a report states is getting rave reviews from those involved in the process.

But there are some things to work out, such as the role a municipality plays in a program like this.

“The lack of a clear understanding of the potential volume of offence notices also creates challenges to understanding the impact that this additional enforcement program might have on an already constrained local Provincial Offences Court system,” the report added.

Another issue looks at “a lack of current and comprehensive data,” and how it “makes it difficult to determine the expected volume of incidents of vehicles failing to stop when the school bus stop arm is extended.”

Ottawa, Niagara, and Peel all have bus stop arm cameras attached to their fleet.

The plan is now to continue working with the OTC Working Group, and explore funding models that would allow either Student Transportation Services Waterloo Region or local school boards to get the cash and implement and manage the program themselves.