This is a problem that can be fixed

To the Editor:
The Albany County legislature has taken much needed action to make our children safer while school buses are on the road.

Local Law C, which I co-sponsored with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, allows the county to begin a demonstration program to oversee the installation and maintenance of video monitoring systems to target drivers who pass stopped school buses.

Those car owners caught on tape will be ticketed and face a $250 fine upon first offense.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children are much more likely to be killed while getting on and off school buses than they are while actually riding in them.

This is not another mandated cost placed on school districts. The county is responsible for the funding, and fines will provide revenue for the program.

The great hope is that this law will get reckless drivers to act more responsibly when approaching a school bus. This is a problem that can be fixed.  

Mark Grimm

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Mark Grimm, a Republican, represents District 29 in the Albany County Legislator.

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