Enhancing School Bus Safety with Cutting-Edge Technology

Driving a school bus is a monumental task, especially in Osceola County’s busy traffic. The weight of responsibility for keeping students safe is a heavy burden to carry. According to Randy Wheeler, the School District of Osceola County’s Director of School Bus Transportation, “Sitting in the saddle, holding on to the handlebars is a pretty daunting task. Driving a bus and being responsible for all the kids that are on the bus and around the bus… that’s a pretty heavy load.”

School buses are a common sight on Osceola County roads.

To mitigate the risks associated with school bus transportation, Osceola County has partnered with Korean company Smart Radar System to equip a bus with a prototype that could serve as a “virtual assistant” to eliminate the danger of blind spots. This innovative technology consists of radars installed on the outside, inside, and underside of the bus. If a pedestrian is too close to the bus, lights and alarms will sound to alert the driver.

“Everything about a bus is designed and engineered to safely attract students to that vehicle: the color, the lights, the signals,” said Assistant Superintendent Scott Knoebel. “But we do recognize there’s risk, and we want to mitigate that risk.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 73 incidents involving pedestrians and school buses over a recent 10-year period, with half of those incidents involving school children. This alarming statistic highlights the need for enhanced safety measures.

Radar technology is being used to improve school bus safety.

The new system would be fully integrated with the District’s management system, ensuring that the responsibility for monitoring it doesn’t fall solely on the driver. Paul Kim, CEO of Smart Radar System, explained that the radar solution was designed to detect people underneath the bus, as well as those within a two-foot radius of the bus.

“If anybody falls underneath the bus, the radar will capture it,” Kim said. “And then also, if anybody is within like two feet to the side of the bus or a little bit of distance in the front, then radar will capture it and then sends alarm messages as well as the LED signals.”

The system also includes 17 radars installed inside the bus, including 11 underneath the seats and six above, to prevent accidents involving children left in the vehicle.

The interior of a school bus is equipped with radars to prevent accidents.

This cutting-edge technology has the potential to revolutionize school bus safety, and Osceola County is at the forefront of this innovation. As Kim noted, “The concept for the radar-based school bus safety solution was born here in Osceola County, and we look forward to continuing to work together to protect our communities.”

With this new technology, Osceola County is taking a significant step towards ensuring the safety of its students. As the county continues to grow and evolve, it’s essential to prioritize the well-being of its most vulnerable citizens – its children.