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American Traffic Solutions Recognizes National School Bus Safety Week
ATS News Release, Oct. 20, 2014

The evidence is found in the news articles below. Drivers are failing to stop for school buses and putting children in great danger. In some cases, a mere heartbeat of time is all that separates a child from a passing vehicle. These close calls occur all too frequently and risk disaster in spite of traffic laws written for the protection of our children. The solution begins with a simple reminder, “At my Stop, you Stop!” This is the message of this year’s National School Bus Safety Week. In support of this year’s safety campaign, American Traffic Solutions is partnering with schools and law enforcement to remind motorists of the lawful and safe practices to take when approaching a stopped school bus. Remember, At my Stop, you Stop!

 

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Concern Grows for Students’ Safety Around Drivers
WWLP-TV NBC 22 (Massachusetts), Oct. 23, 2014

There’s reason to believe the problem of distracted drivers around school zones and school buses is getting worse. “In 2013, two million more drivers passed school bus stop arms than they did in 2011,” says Charles Territo of American Traffic Solutions. “There is no question that distracted driving plays a role.”

 

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School Bus Cameras on a Trial Run in Karnes County
KSAT-TV ABC 12 (Texas), Oct. 22, 2014

The first two school bus cameras of others yet to come, went on a trial run Wednesday afternoon. “You don’t know how relieved I am we started doing this,” said Karnes County Sheriff Dwayne Villanueva.

Student Injured as Garbage Truck Passes Stopped School Bus
WHKY-Radio 1290 AM (North Carolina), Oct. 22, 2014

A 16-year-old was injured Tuesday when a garbage truck ran over his foot as he attempted to board a stopped school bus in Caldwell County. The Highway Patrol said the bus did have all its lights on and its stop-arm extended for nearly 10 seconds before the accident.

 

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Attorney General Wants Cameras to Make N.C. School Buses Safer
WRAL-TV Channel 5 (North Carolina), Oct. 20, 2014

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper wants public school buses across the state equipped with cameras to help capture drivers violating school bus traffic safety laws. Cooper said Monday that the equipment — similar to what’s being used at traffic lights — would take photos of the license plates of any drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. See related coverage from WFMY-TV Channel 2 and The Daily News.

 

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Son of Injured Crossing Guard Says Enough is Enough
WTVD-TV (North Carolina), Oct. 18, 2014

Images of a Garner crossing guard struck by a car are tough for Jordan Hawkins to watch. That’s because it’s his mom. … It’s the latest school bus stop crash in recent weeks. Hawkins’ son says he’s fed up. “Enough is enough. I don’t know when it’s going to end. Too many people are texting and driving and obviously not paying attention,” he said.

 

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Speed Zone Cameras Arrive in Kaufman County, Warning Phase Begins
InForney.com (Texas), Oct. 23, 2014

The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office announced the start of the warning phase for the new school zone safety camera program. The school zone speed cameras, which are installed in marked vehicles that will be parked in the enforcement zones each day, will issue warning notices to the vehicle’s registered owner but no fine will be assessed during the 30-day warning period from Oct. 21 to Nov. 21.

 

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Police: Sedan, School Bus Collide in Red-Light Running Incident
WJBF-TV ABC 6 (Georgia), Oct. 23, 2014

Two passengers in a silver vehicle were transported to the hospital after their car collided with a school bus in a Richmond County intersection. Children on the school bus reported minor complaints and received medical attention. At the crash scene, Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies learned a gray 4-door sedan had ran the red light and struck the bus.

Driver of Pickup Injured in Intersection Collision
Tampa Tribune (Florida), Oct. 23, 2014

The driver of a pickup truck was in critical condition after he ran a red light and hit a Hillsborough County school bus Thursday morning, officials said.

 

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Wilmington Renews Red-Light Camera Program
WECT-TV NBC  6 (North Carolina), Oct. 22, 2014

Wilmington city leaders approved renewing a contract for the red-light cameras seen around town, instead of opting for a new contract that would have brought additional cameras at a discounted rate. The cameras, supplied by American Traffic Solutions, are placed at 13 intersections to prevent drivers from running red lights. (Lumina News photo by Allison Potter)

City of Hollywood Fights for Camera Program
WPLG-TV ABC 10 (Florida), Oct. 22, 2014

The city of Hollywood is not giving up its fight to use cameras to catch red-light runners. It will ask the 4th District Court of Appeals to either reconsider last week’s ruling or send the question to the state’s Supreme Court.

Sugar Land Cracks Down on Ticket Scofflaws
GuidryNews.com (Texas), Oct. 22, 2014

Sugar Land City Council approved an agreement on Oct. 21 with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to withhold vehicle registrations on outstanding municipal court traffic warrants and red-light running violations caught on camera.

 

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Memphis Expands Red-Light Safety Camera Program
The Commercial Appeal (Tennessee), Oct. 21, 2014

Memphis officials are adding 30 new cameras at 18 intersections to catch those who run red lights, bringing the total to 55 cameras at 30 intersections. The installation of the cameras is under way and should be complete next month. See related coverage from WPTY-TV ABC 24.

Albany Police Chief Supports Incoming Red-Light Safety Cameras
WTRY-Radio 98.3 FM (New York), Oct. 21, 2014

Red-light cameras are on their way to Albany. That’s after the Common Council passed the ordinance Monday night. Twenty intersections will get them. Critics call the cams money raisers, but Police Chief Stephen Krokoff says even if the program were revenue neutral, he would still support the cameras. See related coverage on WNYT-TV NBC 13.

 

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MnDPS_OTS @MnDPS_OTS See a school bus with its warning lights & stop arm activated? Don’t do what this semi driver did. #schoolbus #safety http://youtu.be/xyrXtlRH-4c

@NHTSAgov Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens 14 to 18 years old. Get the conversation started with … http://fb.me/43Z07II1O

 

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Express Lanes Being Surveyed on I-295
First Coast News (Florida) Oct. 21, 2014

Survey crews are on the job mapping out express lanes that will go in on Interstate 295 within the next two years. The express lanes are the first for Northeast Florida. Two projects are being planned. The express lanes will offer motorists an option with a SunPass being needed to pay for access. There will not be any toll booths.

MoveDC Plan Includes Toll Lanes
The Washington Post (District of Columbia), Oct. 21, 2014

D. C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Tuesday released an ambitious long-range transportation plan that he said would expand the city’s transit options while deterring driving through the use of toll lanes on the city’s gateways and charging a congestion fee to motorists entering downtown.

 

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Commentary: School Buses Should Have License Plate Readers
Times-News (North Carolina), Oct. 20, 2014

As long as we’re talking about reading license plates, I’ve got a use for that, and it should be implemented immediately: All school buses should be equipped with technology to do so. The instances when a child is hit or killed by a driver who fails to stop for a stopped school bus make state, sometimes even national, news. What doesn’t make the news is the instances when a child could have been hit or killed — when a vehicle fails to stop but, fortunately, doesn’t hit anybody. And this happens all the time.

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Letter to the Editor: Red-Light Cameras Discourage Dangerous Traffic Violations, Save Lives
Times of Trenton (New Jersey), Oct. 23, 2014

Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll found the majority of people approve of the red-light camera program. I am a strong proponent of measures that will make our roadways safer for all users. The cameras have proven to be an effective tool in reducing the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities that result from red-light running.

 

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Maui police issued 359 citations to red-light and stop-sign violators during a two week “Stop or Get Stopped” traffic enforcement campaign that concluded on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. The traffic safety initiative also resulted in 69 citations for motorists who were caught driving without a license, 134 citations for motorists driving without insurance, and 32 DUI arrests, police said. SOURCE: MauiNow.com, Oct. 20, 2014.