New technology expected to improve school bus safety
With the return of classes just over three weeks away, back-to-school preparations are underway in northern Ontario, including mapping out bus routes, recruiting drivers and installing some new technology on buses.
In Sudbury, there are some new measures that will take effect this fall involving a new piece of technology to improve school bus safety for students.
All school buses with the Sudbury Student Services Consortium will be equipped with tablets.
"I do think that this will help with the recruitment of bus drivers, with the turn-by-turn directions, with everything right at your fingertips. Able to see the students' names and all the access to information you need, that is definitely a lot of help when it comes to being a bus driver," said Stacie Rowlands, operations and planning manager with Leuschen Transportation.
It's information the driver can access hands-free.
"It helps the driver to know the name of the students as they get on and off so they have a better idea if it's a JK, SK, so they know that a parent must be out there at the end of the road to pick up their child," said Lynne Gelinas, the bus company's branch manager.
Students will be given a QR code to be checked getting on and off the bus and parents can download a free app.
"The notifications will tell them when the bus is approaching, when the bus is leaving their particular stop and when it's dropping off at the school," said Renee Boucher, the executive director of the Sudbury consortium.
As part of a pilot project, some buses will also be equipped with stop arm cameras.
The cameras capture license plate numbers of traffic violators and tag the video evidence with date, time and GPS location.
"We have some motorists that, unfortunately, don't stop for the stop arm. And as children are crossing the road, we want to ensure the safety of every child. So we are starting this with seven school buses, we are working in partnership with the Greater Sudbury police," Boucher said.
Officials with the consortium said Ontario passed legislation in 2020 that allows footage from the stop arm cameras to be used in court.
The Sudbury Student Services Consortium is reminding parents the last day for bus stop changes is Aug. 17. After that, changes won’t be processed until Sept. 19.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.