Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today highlighted the successes of Albany County’s School Bus Safety Program, which equipped local school buses with stop-arm cameras. It was first launched in 2022 and began with just one school district and has grown exponentially since then, with six school districts in total having now joined the program: South Colonie, Bethlehem, Guilderland, Berne-Knox Westerlo, Voorheesville, and North Colonie.

Albany County has worked to increase awareness and education among motorists as part of this program and a great example of the success of those efforts can be seen in Bethlehem. The Bethlehem Central School District has experienced a significant decrease in incidents, going from an alarming 185 tickets issued in June of 2023, to just 59 tickets during the month of June in 2024. While there is still more work to be done, this is a strong indicator that education works.

Additionally, County Executive McCoy announced that a portion of the funds collected from the tickets will be reinvested into the community to boost student safety, turning penalties into positive change. Three new initiatives were announced: 1) Albany County will reimburse defensive driving courses for students of participating schools; 2) The Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center is establishing a new Youth Violence Prevention Initiative; and 3) Albany County will reimburse Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District for the cost of a school resource officer.

“We have a collective responsibility to ensure that the journey to and from school remains safe for our students. Our Stop-Arm School Bus Safety Program continues to serve as a deterrent and a means of accountability for drivers who might endanger our children by illegally passing stopped buses. We will continue to cultivate a culture of vigilance and respect for school bus safety and these new initiatives will support that goal. By ensuring that the funds collected are used to benefit students, we are creating a constructive cycle where safety and education are mutually reinforced,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.

“I am so happy to be back at Bethlehem Central High School for today's announcement about school bus safety, teen driving safety programs and school violence prevention efforts. I served on the BCSD board of education for several years and as the parent of 4 children who attended BC schools their entire lives, have spent many hours on this campus. I'm proud of the active role that our school district played in educating the Bethlehem community of the need to stop for school buses - which is the law in Albany County, sponsored by my colleague in the Legislature Matt Miller - an educator himself. I'm also delighted to support a new program that reimburses students for taking defensive driving courses - this is a smart investment in advancing the goal of creating safer student drivers. Finally, today's announcement about the County's support for the hiring of a school resource officer at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District is an investment in our kid's safety as is the establishment of a youth violence prevention center within the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center. These initiatives are smart, action-oriented solutions that will make a real difference in promoting the safety of our kids and thank all partners involved in making this happen,” said Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham.

“It’s our responsibility to ensure the safety of our children. Families, schools, and most importantly, our kids rely on us to ensure their safety. As representatives we are fulfilling our duty by providing resources to schools and students to tackle the root causes of violence; this involves addressing issues like bullying and peer-to-peer violence. I’m collaborating with the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center for this very purpose. I am dedicated to enhancing our anti-bullying efforts and creating secure environments for our children. Safeguarding our children is an ongoing commitment, and I am proud to work alongside other leaders in this endeavor,” said Albany County Deputy Chairwoman Wanda Willingham.

“With school reopening next week, it highlights the significance of an initiative aimed at enhancing the safety of our students and schools. As a retired educator, prioritizing the safety, innovation, and welcoming environment of our school communities for children to focus on their education is paramount. With my involvement in sponsoring the School Bus Safety Program legislation a few years ago, we have encountered challenges related to implementation of ticket issuance. However, with the participation of six districts, we are witnessing a significant improvement in the program's effectiveness. What truly matters to me is the enhanced safety of children and families, along with the introduction of more youth protection initiatives resulting from this commendable accomplishment,” said Legislator Matt Miller.

“It’s alarming how often drivers illegally pass stopped school buses,” said Bethlehem Central School District Superintendent Jody Monroe. “As a district, we are committed to keeping students safe. Stop-arm cameras not only document infractions; they are also meant to serve as a deterrent against reckless driving. Passing a stopped school bus has legal consequences and puts the safety of children at risk. As students return to school next week, we encourage drivers to be mindful of reduced speed limits in school zones, yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, and when a school bus is stopped, all cars in all directions must stop.”

The new Albany County Youth Violence Prevention Program will respond to the victims of community violence, help address root causes of violence, and reduce repeat crimes among youth. This initiative will be based in schools and after school programs. Staff will also utilize certain parts of county properties as remote spaces to unwind and heal for students and their families. Activities will include education, monthly supports groups, skill building, including emotion regulation and coping, and creating youth ambassadors to help spread the word. This will be a collaboration with our Probation Department through other programs like Project Growth and the Juvenile Community Accountability Board.

For those interested in the Defensive Driving Reimbursement Program, they must complete a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles-certified course. Proof of completion of the defensive driving course can then be submitted to County Executive McCoy’s Office by emailing county_executive@albanycountyny.gov or calling (518) 447-7040.

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Pic includes (left to right) Berne-Knox-Westerlo Superintendent Bonnie Kane, Acting Director Albany County Crime Victim & Sexual Violence Center Amanda Wingle, STOP ARM Technician Michael Wright, Bethlehem Town Supervisor David VanLuven, STOP Arm Project Manager Adam Hornick, Bethlehem Central School District Superintendent Jody Monroe, Legislator Matt Miller, CE McCoy, Legislature Chair Cunningham, Deputy Chair Willingham and Deputy County Executive Michael McLaughlin.