LOUDONVILLE — Officials from Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools said the district has increased student safety with new exterior bus cameras.
All district buses are now equipped with exterior cameras. The implementation began in the second half of the 2024-2025 school year, according to a Loudonville-Perrysville Schools press release.
The cameras will record continuously while buses are in motion, which will help monitor traffic violations, such as illegally passing a school bus.
“We experienced many issues last year with drivers running reds and passing buses. These cameras will serve as both a deterrent and a tool to hold drivers accountable,” Superintendent Jennifer Allerding said in a press release.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety reported over 14,000 citations issued between 2017 and 2021 for drivers unlawfully passing school buses, according to the press release.
In Ohio, the maximum fine for illegally passing a school bus is $500, but if House Bill 3, or the School Bus Safety Act passes, that fine could increase to up to $1,000 for first-time violators or up to $2,000 for repeat violators.
The bill passed in the Ohio House of Representatives on June 11. If the bill is enacted, it would also:
- Create a grant program for schools to apply for funds to improve bus safety features
- Create public education initiatives on school bus safety
- Designate August as School Bus Safety Month
More information about the School Bus Safety Act can be found here.
Funding for the new bus cameras came from a safety grant from the State of Ohio and support from the Tri-County Educational Service Center.
