CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) — As students head back to school , ensuring their safety before they even enter the classroom is crucial.

School districts and police statewide are reminding drivers of the dangers and consequences of passing a stopped school bus.

Rhode Island law requires that drivers in both directions stop for a bus with its red lights flashing, but not everyone follows this rule.

Cumberland Police Chief Matthew Benson mentioned that both police and school officials have gotten complaints about drivers ignoring stopped buses.

Violators can face fines of up to $500 and a 30-day license suspension.

“It’s a pretty hefty penalty, and I think it’s appropriate in the sense of what the potential could be,” Benson said.

To enhance safety, some school districts are equipping buses with additional technology.

Providence and Cumberland, for example, are installing new AI cameras on the front, sides, and rear of their yellow buses.

“If the technology is available and makes sense financially, it should be used,” Benson said. “We can’t have an officer at every bus stop or follow every bus; it’s simply not feasible.”

These cameras are activated by the stop sign arm and will capture footage of any driver who passes a stopped bus. The video will then be sent to police for review.

“A problem doesn’t have to be, you know, 50 or 100 of these a day. It can be five. It can be two,” Benson added. “One is the potential for a very tragic incident.”

Providence schools expect their cameras to be installed and operational within a few weeks, while Cumberland anticipates deploying theirs sometime in the fall.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily Roundup

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.