Stop Paddle Camera Program

A safe learning environment is essential for our students. Safety goes well beyond the classroom and Renton School District is emphasizing the importance of safety as students ride our school buses to and from school. School buses are among the safest modes of transport—students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But we know drivers today are more distracted than ever which can cause safety issues when our students are getting on and off school buses. To help protect our students, Renton School District has implemented a stop arm paddle camera program on 25 of our school buses. The cameras will record any driver who does not properly stop when bus stop paddles and cross bars are engaged to allow our students to safely enter and exit school buses.

Below is a video that talks about the new camera program and importance of driver awareness of the law. Also included are a few helpful diagrams to show drivers when to stop and a list of frequently asked questions.

Below are helpful diagrams to show when vehicles need to stop when the bus stop paddle and arm are extended.

Two-lane roadway:

Two-lane roadway with a center turn lane:

 Four-lane roadway: