Harnett County using AI technology to make school buses safer

Now, kids in Harnett County have an extra layer of protection when they’re on school buses.

Not everyone stops for school buses, putting students' lives in danger.

5 On Your Side reminder: When to stop for school buses

That's why Harnett County Schools superintendent Aaron Fleming said they decided to partner with BusPatrol at the beginning of the school year.

The company uses AI technology called Ava and attaches software to bus arms, recording anyone who passes a stopped bus.

It can cover up to eight lanes of traffic.

"By adding these stop arm cameras to our buses, now we have our students protected from the moment they get on that bus in the morning until they step off the bus in the afternoon," said Fleming.

Last year statewide, 657 people were cited for failing to stop for a school bus. Out of those drivers, 141 drivers were found guilty or pleaded no contest.

Jean Souliere came up with the concept.

”It really is a very efficient way to hold drivers accountable," said Souliere. ”It grabs the geolocation, the plate, captures everything that’s required for law enforcement to make a determination as to whether a ticket should be issued or not."

The information is then sent to an officer through the alert bus platform.

”They make the determination and once they say that the ticket should be issued they click the button and then a BusPatrol will mail the ticket to the offender," said Souliere.

Souliere said that most people pay the violation right away ,and 98% of people who get a ticket from their program don’t get a second one. The system also allows the offender to actually go online and view the video of them passing the stopped school bus.

BusPatrol is currently working with over 100 school districts and plans to expand even further.