BOSTON – The Massachusetts Legislature passed two transportation-related bills Monday aimed at making roads safer for all, according to a press release from the office of State Sen. Brendan Crighton.
Senate Bill 2884 is an act relative to bus lane enforcement. It allows the MBTA or any regional transit authority to mount cameras on buses or at bus stops, in an effort to deter cars from stopping or parking in dedicated bus lanes and stops, which often leads to disruptions in bus service and creates potential hazards for passengers, particularly those with disabilities. Fines will range from $25 to $125.
House Bill 4940 is an act concerning the safety of school children embarking and disembarking from school buses. It authorizes cities and towns to use camera systems on school buses to monitor vehicles who overtake or fail to stop for a school bus. Evidence of alleged violations would then be sent to law enforcement. Majority approval from the governing school committee would also be needed for the adoption of such a system.
The city of Peabody led the way in starting this initiative, after conducting a pilot program last year. Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt explained that the initiative started after a handful of dangerous close calls involving school children and motorists led parents and the city to get together to discuss solutions.
During the city’s nine-month pilot, cameras on 10 school buses found 3,412 instances of motorists failing to stop for a school bus while children were either getting on or off the bus. According to Bettencourt, the initiative had been in front of the State House in several different forms over the past few years, before Peabody was able to finally make a conclusive enough case to get it passed.
“I think it’s something that will save lives [and] help cure a lot of the dangerous driving that’s taking place on our streets … It will make the situation much safer for our students and families and give the police the ability to penalize those [driving] in a dangerous fashion,” Bettencourt said.
Crighton, who serves as chair of the Transportation Committee, added that “safety has been a top priority this legislative session, and I am thrilled we were able to send these bills to the Governor before the end of the year. Camera enforcement on school buses and bus lanes will improve trip times and road conditions for all users.”
Pete Wilson, the senior policy director for transportation for Massachusetts, thanked Crighton for his leadership on the bills.
“Protecting children as they board or get off the bus and prioritizing enforcement bus only lanes will make our transportation system safer and more efficient,” he added.
This article features contributions from Peabody reporter Luke Acton.
