Speed-Limiting Technology for Safer School Buses

How New York City is Implementing “Intelligent Speed Assistance” to Improve School Bus Safety

Every day across America, school buses transport the country’s most precious cargo.

A recent study by the federal government, however, underlined just how dangerous it can be for a child to ride in a bus to and from school.

In New York City alone, 11 people died in accidents involving the city’s school buses between 2017 and 22, according to the study. 

During that same timeframe, there were some 347 incidents involving NYC school buses and third parties, including cyclists and pedestrians, that led to insurance claims. 

Further, the study identified more than 8,000 claims related to school transportation that yielded $90 million in payouts and nearly $250 million more in unpaid claims. 

Recognizing the need to take action—both for the safety of the city’s schoolchildren and the general public—New York City is trialing new speed-limiting technology that automatically prevents school bus drivers from speeding. 

New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks, along with NYC’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), recently announced that more 50 school buses will be outfitted with “intelligent speed assistance” that prevents drivers from exceeding the speed limit.

Across the country, school districts are adopting a host of technologies to improve school bus safety and efficiency, including software like Bytecurve360, the nation’s leading provider of dispatch and payroll software focused exclusively on the student transportation industry. 

Bytecurve360 is the only software that merges GPS fleet tracking and routing data to deliver a unique “command and control” solution that helps school bus fleet leaders respond to late or missing drivers by switching routes, runs and tasks while communicating with drivers in real time and managing the complexities of different payroll requirements across diverse jobs and roles. 

Speed Camera Focus: Improving School Bus Safety 

The first-in-the-nation implementation of intelligent speed assistance (ISA) on school buses—as part of NYC’s “School Bus Safe Fleet Transition Plan”—was prepared in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center.

The program is part of a $30 million federal Department of Transportation (DOT) grant awarded to NYC in December 2023.

The move comes in the wake of a New York Daily News report on serious safety issues within the city’s school bus fleet. The Daily News found that approximately two-thirds of the city’s school buses have been ticketed by speed and red light cameras. 

Thousands of those tickets were issued in or near school zones.

While GPS fleet tracking systems are designed to track and alert dispatchers and leaders of sending vehicles, the volume of buses in large fleets like New York City can present challenges to making that data actionable. 

Solutions like Bytecurve360 offer another opportunity to capture this critical safety data in a report that can be shared immediately across a fleet. 

“Our primary responsibility as a community and a school system is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our youngest New Yorkers, not only when they are in class but also as they are transitioning to and from their schools,” Banks said. 

“The rollout of these safety strategies designed to protect our school bus riders will give our families peace of mind that their babies are safe.”

The plan features key initiatives to keep the city’s students safe by improving school bus and road safety, including 

• Additional bus driver training and safety risk reporting 
• Piloting of new safety cameras and pedestrian alerts on the buses
• And introducing school buses into DCAS’s intelligent speed assistance (ISA) pilot to limit speeding, making New York City the first city in the nation to use ISA technology on its school buses.

DCAS is expanding its ISA initiative to 300 city fleet vehicles, with 50 school buses among those 300 vehicles.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced on Dec. 19, 2023, that the city had received a federal DOT grant to expand the ISA program to 2,000 City fleet vehicles.

While NYC’s municipal fleet consists of more than 30,000 vehicles, it’s a step in the right direction.

“New York City continues to utilize innovative technology to make our city smarter and safer, putting these tools to work for our students is a no-brainer,” Adams said. 

“The School Bus Safe Fleet Transition Plan focuses on keeping kids safe by making buses safer with cameras, audible turn alerts, and updated driver safety training—all with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and injuries.”

Social Bus Safety

Vehicles with speed-limiting technology experienced a 36-percent reduction in “hard-braking events,” a telltale sign of dangerous driving, according to NYC Administrative Services Commissioner Dawn Pinnock.

The city will also test turn signals that flash LED lights and play audio messages to make pedestrians aware of turning buses, as well as new cameras to improve drivers’ visibility.

“Every day, parents and families entrust our city to transport their children to and from school safely, and by enacting these new initiatives, we are reaffirming our commitment to make this a reality,” Pinnock said of the introduction of school buses to the program. 

“We are excited for the new prospects and for the expansion of intelligent speed assistance. Our agency is fully invested in making all fleet vehicles greener, safer, and better for all New Yorkers.”

According to a 2023 report by DOT, New York City’s Office of Pupil Transportation 

• carries about 150,000 students to and from school, 
• with 52 bus companies operating on over 9,000 routes

School bus transportation is a critical aspect of ensuring the safety of children during their daily commute to and from school.

Implementing speed-limiting technology can significantly enhance safety measures and reduce the risk of accidents involving school buses.

Benefits of speed-limiting technology:

• Prevents Speeding: Speed-limiting technology ensures that school buses adhere to designated speed limits, reducing the likelihood of accidents caused by excessive speed.
• Enhances Driver Accountability: By enforcing speed limits, the technology encourages responsible driving behavior among bus drivers, fostering a safer environment for students.
• Reduces Accident Risks: Maintaining appropriate speeds reduces the risk of collisions, rollovers, and other accidents, thereby safeguarding the lives of students and drivers alike.
• Lower Severity of Accidents: Even in cases where accidents do occur, speed-limiting technology can help reduce the severity of the impact. By keeping buses within safe speed limits, the technology minimizes the force of collisions, leading to fewer injuries and less damage to property.
• Mitigates Impact of Driver Error: In cases where drivers inadvertently exceed speed limits, speed-limiting technology intervenes to prevent potential accidents, acting as a safety net against human error.

Speed-limiting technology represents a vital component in the quest for safer school bus transportation. 

By leveraging such solutions, municipalities can proactively enhance safety measures, mitigate risks, and prioritize the well-being of students and drivers alike.

How software like Bytecurve can also improve safety and efficiency:

As the only software solution that merges GPS Fleet Tracking and routing data into a new solution, Bytecurve360 is the fastest-growing technology serving the student transportation industry thanks to its ability to significantly improve: 

• Payroll operations, including the streamlining of different pay codes and job or tasks between and among staff members 
• Dispatching operations, including the ability to alter routes, runs and tasks in real-time to respond to later and/or absent drivers 
• Real-time app-powered communications, including the ability for drivers in the field to respond to route changes via the app

Bytecurve360, like driver speed alerts, on-board cameras, and stop-arm technology, is another opportunity for public and private student transportation fleets to improve the safety and efficiency of their operations.