Ball-Chatham schools enhance bus safety with stop arm extensions

CHATHAM, Ill. (WICS) — The Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District #5 has announced a significant investment in student safety with the addition of stop arm extensions to its school bus fleet. These new external warning systems aim to increase the visibility of buses during student pick-up and drop-off, enhancing safety for all road users.

"The safety of our students is always our top priority," said Dr. Becca Lamon, BCSD Superintendent. "We’re proud to partner with BusGates to bring this innovative technology to our school buses. Enhancing the visibility of stop signals is a simple but powerful step toward ensuring that students can get on and off the bus safely every day. This is an important investment in the well-being of our children and safety of our entire community."

The initiative was initially proposed by Laura Calderon, Executive Director of the Illinois Public Transportation Association and former Ball-Chatham Board of Education Vice President.

The move comes in response to alarming statistics from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, which reported an estimated 62,500 vehicles illegally passed stopped school buses in a single day during the 2022-2023 school year in the U.S.

The LED-illuminated arms, developed by Springfield-based BusGates, extend 72 inches from the side of the bus and attach to the bottom of existing retractable bus stop signs.

Currently, seven BCSD buses are equipped with the stop arm extensions. The district plans to outfit its entire fleet of 48 buses with the technology by the start of the 2025-26 school year.