OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Central Florida children will soon be back in the classroom — and that means school buses will be back on area roads.
Districts want motorists to be aware when they’re behind the wheel.
It’s about keeping kids safe.
READ: Here’s when schools start across Central Florida
In Osceola County, Channel 9 reporter Alexa Lorenzo got a chance to check out a “super bus” that takes student safety to the next level.
When a school bus stops and its sign extends, you stop. It’s pretty simple — and it’s the law.
But too often, people drive right around that stopped school bus, putting their commute ahead of children’s safety.
The “super bus” is rigged with a handful of live cameras to catch violators in the act.
The School District of Osceola County first tested these buses out on the streets last school year.
“Our drivers, when they drive this bus, they really feel super because it adds an extra layer of protection for students on board,” district transportation services director Orville Watson explained.
READ: Florida’s back-to-school tax-free holiday: What does it include?
If a car is passing, a sensor inside the bus near the driver will turn red.
The bus will also automatically deploy the predictive stop arm when its sensors detect oncoming cars, along with a message that blares: “Danger! Get back!”
Watson said in a perfect world, all district buses would be this high-tech, but it’s not possible under current funding restraints.
READ: Osceola County school buses equipped with new safety lights
Other district transportation improvements will include new safety lights on buses to make them more visible, particularly in low-light areas along rural routes.
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