Students across Chatham-Kent are a little bit safer this year, thanks to some upgrades to school buses.
Kent Orr, GM of CLASS, says the buses that serve both the LKDSB and the SCCDSB now have GPS systems, external strobe lights, and other features.
“We have digital surveillance equipment actually on all of our buses, similar to surveillance systems in schools, these are for the protection of the driver and the kids, ensuring a safe environment and we have the ability to check that out if there are incidents.”
What’s called a check-mate system has also been installed, acting as a reminder to drivers to walk through the bus to ensure there are no children left on board at the end of the day.
Orr says they’re also looking at using the GPS to potentially alert families to bus delays and up to the minute information on bus location.