The Sarnia Police Services Board is looking into adding camera equipped stop arms on school buses.
It comes after the East Ferris Police Services Board (EFPSB) called on all Ontario police boards to do more to protect children getting on and off the bus.
In a letter from last fall, EFPSB said the addition of a new eight-light amber light system, as well as text added to the back of the bus, have shown no change in driver behavior since being implemented at the start of the school year.
Sarnia Police Board Chair Paul Wiersma said he believes the entire board is committed to enhancing child safety with respect to school buses.
"It does concern me when I hear about motorists that are not following the rules with respect to not passing school buses when they're stopped. However, I would just want us to be cautious about endorsing something unless we have greater information."
During this month's meeting, the board agreed to accept the letter for information.
Wiersma said it would be appropriate to have a discussion and a conversation with the school bus operators to find out if this is indeed an issue in Sarnia-Lambton and what would be the expectations if they were to move towards greater technological requirements.
"What would the cost be? And not that there is -- you know, to ensure the safety of children, there should be no cost consideration. But on the other hand, we need to be realistic and practical about how we can best invest our funds."
The Chatham-Kent Lambton Administrative School Services (CLASS) provides student transportation to those in Lambton-Kent & St. Clair Catholic district school boards.
CLASS General Manager Kent Orr said he believes they've definitely seen an increased awareness from the public about the amber light system along with some questions and maybe a lit bit of confusion.
"Because it's such a subtle change that happened over the summer going into the fall and it's still relatively early. I don't know that we've seen an impact, necessarily, on occupant or driver behaviour, but we've definitely seen more awareness around it," he said. "You think a 40-foot, bright yellow bus with flashing lights would stand out more than it does sometimes, but we certainly want to keep that messaging out."
Orr said anything that's going to help improve safety for the kids around the buses and crossing traffic, they're all behind.
"There's different products and different approaches and maybe that's some of where the discussion gets a little deeper, but definitely we would support anything to promote safety and keep those kids safe."
Orr added that the biggest change is that drivers are now getting that advanced warming before the bus is actually stopped.
"The bus drivers are able to give the motorists around them the heads up that 'hey, I am slowing down to stop to pick up children.' So, if motorists are being attentive and paying attention to that, they're able to adjust their speed and slow down in advance."
With files from Josh Boyce