and endangering students . According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services ( NASDPTS ), thousands of violations occur each school day , leading to potential tragedies . This “ epidemic ” of illegally passing a school bus continues to worsen every year with needless student death and injuries resulting . FLSP operates with a moral obligation to do as much as possible to help broaden the reach of effective safety products , which along with partners such as AIDB , it is collectively doing every day . This is especially impactful with the visually impaired community . First Light ’ s technology is actively changing the standard for school bus safety . By increasing the visual presence of school buses , especially in low-light conditions . Many transportation directors across the country are beginning to recognize the value of illuminated safety features in reducing stop-arm violations and improving overall school bus awareness . “ In our industry , anything we can do to make students safer is worth the investment ,” Gilliam said . “ Other school districts should seriously consider these upgrades . The safety benefits are undeniable .”
Community Feedback Although the installation process is ongoing , the results are already noticeable . “ I ’ ve had several people approach me and ask , ‘ Did we get new buses ?’ because they ’ re noticing the illuminated signs ,” Gilliam said . “ And that ’ s exactly what we wanted — to make sure people see our buses .” Community members and law enforcement have praised the increased visibility of AIDB ’ s buses . “ We ’ ve had officers tell us that these signs are making a huge difference ,” Gilliam said . “ They wish every school system had them .” Additionally , parents have reported feeling reassured knowing their children are riding on buses equipped with state-of-the-art safety features .
“ One parent told me , ‘ It ’ s comforting to know that when my child is getting on or off the bus , they are as visible as possible to other drivers ,’” Gilliam said .
Looking to the Future As AIDB completes the installation across its fleet , Gilliam sees this as just the beginning of a broader commitment to enhanced transportation safety . “ Every new bus we order from this point forward will have First Light ’ s illuminated signage installed ,” he said . “ Once our yellow buses are fully outfitted , we ’ ll start looking at installing the technology on our activity buses as well .” Beyond AIDB , the push for safer school buses is gaining momentum nationwide . Many school districts are considering similar enhancements , recognizing that the investment in safety technology has long-term benefits . First Light ’ s recent study reinforces this shift , providing concrete evidence of the benefits of fully illuminating the stop octagon . First Light ’ s efficacy study showed that 14 out of 15 participating school districts experienced a measurable decline in violations , with a median reduction of 60.2 percent . Even more striking , the study found an 88 % decrease in illegal passes occurring in low-light , dusk , and dawn conditions — precisely when AIDB operates many of its routes . ( firstlightsafety . com ) The impact of the illuminated signs is already making waves at AIDB , proving that small changes — like making a bus more visible — can have a significant effect on student safety . As other school districts and transportation departments consider similar upgrades , AIDB ’ s experience stands as a testament to the power of innovation in ensuring that every student ’ s journey is a safe one . “ With these upgrades , we ’ re leading the way in school transportation safety ,” Gilliam said . “ If we can set an example for others , then we ’ re doing something truly worthwhile .”
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