SPECIAL REPORT
cident like a fight was reported, not a typical occurrence on a pre-K route,” hence the need for consistent review of footage even when no incident has been reported.
Driver Training “For drivers, there has typically been an initial hes-
itancy and reluctancy to use the camera systems, but once they see how video and audio can back up their side of the story during incidents, most ultimately like having the camera systems in placem,” shared Brooks. Jackson echoed this sentiment by saying drivers she
oversees at CMS have found that onboard cameras pro- vide peace of mind that safety incidents don’t turn into “he-said, she-said” situations. “While traditionally more of a post-incident inves-
tigative tool, modern security cameras can also be a powerful prevention tool,” said Dorn. “For example, we advise our clients to consider crafting, implementing and following a policy [that] outlines how supervisory personnel will use a random selection process to pull segments of video footage from school buses at key route times, check for policy compliance and archive the footage to document their efforts.” Dorn noted drivers are made aware their performance is being regularly monitored and that management can
recognize them for adhering to safety standards. Stephen Satterly, senior analyst at Safe Havens In-
ternational, said when he was a school transportation supervisor in Ohio he would conduct a “hot wash” foot- age review with individual school bus drivers to “identify what went well and what could be improved.” Jackson shared that she not only uses the footage in her CMS area to identify when and why drivers need more training but also to back up her drivers when there are behavioral challenges with students that required changes be made for the safety of everyone on board. Clint Bryer, vice president of student transportation sales
for Safety Vision, demonstrated camera features that aid in driver performance review and training at the TSD Confer- ence Trade Show. He said school districts can customize what qualifies as an infraction, such as looking away from the road, not wearing a seatbelt, or using a cellphone while driving. Different infractions can carry “heavier weight” when it comes to scoring driver performance. “Driver behavior management solutions have signifi-
cantly contributed to improving driver performance by providing actionable data from AI detection of phone use, following too closely, seatbelt compliance and front collisions,” added AngelTrax CEO Richie Howard. “The most effective solutions integrate GPS and G-Force sensors with high-resolution video, with interior and ex- terior views, to provide context for the driver’s decisions and/or reactions along the route.” Multiple video vendors and safety experts noted that AI is becoming an increasingly used tool to detect safety incidents. Howard noted that the industry is only “scratching the surface” and the capabilities of AI will continue to grow and be used to notify transportation immediately if a safety concern is detected. “Machine learning can be integrated into school bus cameras to predict dangerous situations, such as student bullying or a conflict about to break out,” said Deming. Brooks summed up his advice regarding the use of cameras for increased safety and driver training by high- lighting the importance of that human involvement. “Even with the advancements of AI, or any technology,
we must remember that human involved is paramount. Training drivers will always be critical regardless of any technology that can assist them. Assist is the key term, not replace,” he said. “Don’t allow cameras to replace human involvement, training, reviewing, interactions, etc. Cam- eras are great tools but not a cure all in of themselves.” ●
Monique Jackson, an area director for Charlotte- Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina, wrote children’s book “Gus the Talking Safety Bus” to
teach younger students the basics of school bus safety. Read more at
stnonline.com/go/mm. Listen to her describe her book and background on the School Transportation Nation podcast at
stnonline.com/go/oc.
20 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2026
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