School buses in Albany are getting a big upgrade designed to keep kids safer on their rides to and from school.
The district has teamed up with Bus Patrol to install smart cameras on every bus. These cameras, powered by artificial intelligence, can spot drivers who ignore the flashing red lights and stop arm.
The technology, known as Ava, is built to recognize what’s happening on the road. It can tell the difference between a parked car, a moving vehicle, and other objects nearby. Since it’s linked directly to the bus, it always knows when students are getting on or off.
Outfitting each bus costs around $10,000, but schools don’t have to pay for it. Neither do taxpayers. Instead, the program funds itself because violators who get caught are the ones footing the bill…