Visibility is critical for school bus safety. For the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB), which operates a unique and expansive transportation system, ensuring the safety of students and staff on the road is a top priority. Enter First Light Safety Products, whose illuminated signage and stop-arm technology are helping AIDB make their fleet more visible, and their bus stops safer.
Located in Talladega, Alabama, AIDB has been serving students with visual and hearing impairments since its establishment in 1858. The institution operates six campuses and 10 regional centers across the state, providing specialized education and services to students of all ages. Transportation plays a crucial role in ensuring students can access these services.
AIDB’s transportation system consists of 37 school buses, all of which are special-needs equipped, with nearly half being wheelchair accessible. The operation includes eight daily K-12 routes, five adult routes, additional routes for weekly student commutes home, and trips for extracurricular activities.
“With our extended routes, our buses are often on the road at odd hours, as early as 4:00 AM and as late as 11:00 PM,” says Sammy Gilliam, AIDB’s transportation director. “That means we’re operating in total darkness for a significant part of the day, making visibility and safety a huge concern.”
The First Light Solution
Given these challenges, AIDB sought a solution to improve school bus visibility. That solution came in the form of First Light Safety Products. Introduced to AIDB by Ben Word of Transportation South, the First Light team demonstrated their innovative illuminated school bus signage and stop-arm full illumination technology. The impact was immediate.
First Light Safety Products is known for its technology that enhances school bus safety. Their products include:
• Illuminated School Bus Signs: These LED-illuminated signs ensure that approaching drivers can clearly identify a school bus, even in the darkest conditions. They are significantly more visible than traditional reflective signs.
• Fully Illuminated Stop Arms: These stop arms feature high-visibility LED lighting, which fully illuminate the entire red octagon and white STOP letters, making it nearly impossible for drivers to miss when a bus is stopping to load or unload students. By being immediately recognizable as a STOP sign, drivers have critical added time to respond.
• Edge-Lit Light Dispersion Technology: Unlike passive reflectors, First Light’s products actively emit light, significantly reducing the risk of low-visibility accidents.
• Extended Product Lifespan: These LED-based systems are designed to last longer and require minimal maintenance compared to traditional safety signage.
• Proven Effectiveness: First Light’s Fully Illuminated Stop Arm has been independently verified to reduce illegal passing of a stopped school bus by a median of 60.2 percent nationwide!
• In low-light conditions, a medium reduction of 88 percent was achieved. Low-light conditions are among the most dangerous for student safety!
“The difference between a standard school bus sign and one with First Light’s illumination is night and day,” Gilliam said. “You can see it from hundreds of feet away, and that means safer conditions for our drivers and students.”
Implementation and Training
With funding secured through AIDB’s budget allocation for fleet renewal, installation efforts began. While the process has required some scheduling adjustments, it has been relatively seamless thanks to First Light’s support and detailed installation guides.
“The vast majority of our fleet consists of Thomas C2 buses, so once our technicians got used to installing the signage on one bus, it became a straightforward process,” Gilliam said. “First Light has been phenomenal with support. Anytime we had a question, they were quick to help. That kind of customer service makes all the difference.”
Additionally, First Light provided comprehensive training to ensure that AIDB’s technicians could efficiently install and maintain the new safety equipment.
“The training was fantastic,” Gilliam said. “They walked us through everything, from wiring to troubleshooting, so we feel confident that we can handle any future maintenance in-house.”
Industry-Wide Implications
School bus stop safety remains a pressing issue nationwide, with increasing reports of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses 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.”