Two children in Baltimore County had a terrifying walk across the street on Thursday when a red car tried to zip past a stopped school bus and missed them by inches, all caught on police video.
The clip, released by Baltimore County Police, shows the red car starting to pass the bus while its red lights are flashing and the stop arm is fully extended, coming dangerously close to the two kids who are already crossing, according to WBAL-TV. The department later posted a blunt reminder on social media: “While tickets can be expensive, they are nothing compared to the loss of life.”
The near-miss has put fresh focus on stop-arm enforcement and the county’s school bus camera program.
Enforcement and fines
Baltimore County has equipped school buses with exterior cameras and now issues $250 citations to drivers caught passing stopped buses, following an initial warning period, according to CBS Baltimore. County officials say the automated enforcement was rolled out specifically to cut down on dangerous close calls and better protect students getting on and off buses.
How bus video is handled
Baltimore County Public Schools says the video technology on its buses is meant to support a safe environment for students. Recordings are labeled with the date, time, and bus number, and only authorized personnel are allowed to retain and review them, according to the district’s procedures manual. That footage can be used to identify license plates and help police follow up on violations.
Police are urging drivers to give buses plenty of space whenever children are boarding or getting off. A citation, they say, is a small price to pay compared with a life lost, WBAL-TV reported. While the department has not announced any charges in this specific case, it said it will investigate any violation captured on video.
