SFISD’s first priority in the transportation program is the safety of our students. In 2018-2019, approximately 3,500 students were transported by 31 drivers on 50 buses with over 140 routes on a daily basis.
In an effort to increase student safety the City of Santa Fe has passed an ordinance allowing for camera enforcement of school bus stop arm violations. To take advantage of this opportunity, Santa Fe ISD has entered into an agreement with Verra Mobility to provide the cameras and image processing. The cameras were installed in August and will be active and ready to begin capturing violations on September 16, 2019. There will be a one-month warning period starting September 16, with warnings notices being mailed to violators. Beginning October 15, 2019, citations will be issued for violations in the amount of $300. The violations are issued to the registered owner of the car, much like a parking ticket. There is an appeals process that allows for contesting the citation by mail or in person.
A Department of Public Safety news release on August 8, 2018, explains the requirements for stopping for a loading or unloading bus:
“State law requires that drivers stop when a bus is stopped and operating a visual signal – either red flashing lights or a stop sign. Drivers should not proceed until the school bus resumes motion; the driver is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or the visual signal is no longer activated. Approaching drivers do not have to stop for a school bus that is operating a visual signal if the roadway is separated by a physical barrier or an intervening space. (If a highway is divided only by a left-turning lane, the roadways are not considered separated, and drivers must stop for school buses.)”
The graphic on page 2 is a visual explanation of stopping requirements:
As we approach the beginning of a new school year, please remember that passing a school bus on an undivided highway is illegal. For example, passing a school bus when the Stop Arm is out on Highway 6, FM 646, or Highway 1764 is considered an illegal pass since this is not a divided highway. The work to improve safety and security in Santa Fe ISD is ongoing.
1 comment
Hwy 646 is a divided highway since it is considered a hurricane evacuation route. Also, at the intersections that clearly have a pedestrian crosswalk in the City of Santa Fe, the highway is considered a divided highway that pedestrians are only permitted to cross at the crosswalk. School buses stopped at the Trailer Park are considered a bus drop zone since the bus did not pull into the trailer park and deliver each student at their residence. A bus monitor must be present to prevent children from crossing the highway intersection without being in the crosswalk. If there are no monitors, the child should not be dropped off at that present time.
Two major highways intersecting should be revisited for drivers within 188 feet of the intersection when on the adjacent side of the school bus drop zone.
Traffic in an intersection within 188 feet, should already be using caution, especially when pedestrians are around such intersections.
I’m concerned that these cameras are not capturing the true offense of the roadway. In Galveston County and the State of Texas, Camera capture laws is a violation of our freedoms and don’t tell the whole truth. I would think that there should be a clear and precise decision to put a median in the intersection to make this law or ordinance more clear, sense presently it is as clear as mud.