Gatekeeper Protects Schoolchildren in Niagara and Supports New Legislation in Ontario
Abbotsford, BC – September 4, 2019 – Gatekeeper Systems Inc. (‘Gatekeeper’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX-V:GSI) (OTC: GKPRF) (FSX: 1GK), a leading provider of video surveillance systems developed to protect people while in transit, is pleased to announce it has received orders for approximately 100 Student ProtectorTM systems from school bus operators contracted by Niagara Student Transportation Services (NSTS). The Company also announces its support for Ontario’s new legislation which permits video evidence from stop-arm cameras.
Gatekeeper estimates the value of the orders announced today to be approximately $250,000, which the Company believes is the largest deployment of stop-arm cameras announced in Ontario since the new legislation was introduced. Installation has already commenced and is expected to be completed by December 2019.
On June 4, 2019, the Ontario government passed the Getting Ontario Moving Act which includes provisions to protect school children by giving municipalities the tools they need to target drivers who threaten the safety of children crossing roads to their school or home.
“Last year school bus drivers identified on-the-bus and bus stop safety concerns as top priorities, and cameras will serve as a tool in the event of a concern or incident that needs to be investigated.” said Lori Ziraldo, Executive Director of NSTS in a statement. NSTS manages student transportation services for school boards transporting over 32,000 students to 153 schools on 542 school buses.
The Ontario School Bus Association estimates that approximately 18,000 school buses travel two million kilometers in Ontario every school day.
Doug Dyment, CEO of Gatekeeper commented, “We applaud both the Ontario government and NSTS School Bus Contractors for taking measures to protect school children, and by addressing the serious concerns of vehicles illegally passing school buses while the stop-arm is out and the lights are flashing”.
School bus safety is a growing concern due to the rise of vehicles illegally passing school buses while stopped. In the United States, The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services conducts an annual survey of stop-arm violations. During the 2018-19 school year, 130,963 school buses reported that 95,319 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day (nearly one per bus per school day on average) which points to more than 17 million school bus stop-arm violations per year in the United States alone. Several states and provinces have recently authorized the use of video and photo evidence for issuing citations as a method to deter this dangerous practice.
Student ProtectorTM
Gatekeeper’s Student Protector is an advanced video-based system for recording school bus stop-arm violations. The system includes digital recorders, 10-megapixel cameras for multi-lane high-speed license plate capture, GPS location, and wireless network compatibility for remote downloading. Student Protector utilizes video analytics to automatically identify and record incidents, and together with the Company’s propertiary Traffic Infraction Management System, provides automated video analysis and pre-formatted incident reports that can be used by enforcement agencies.
About Gatekeeper Systems Inc.
Gatekeeper provides wireless high-resolution video security and safety solutions for in-transit applications, including school buses, municipal transit, first response, and the military. The Company offers wireless live-streaming video surveillance, video analytics, driver monitoring, and incident management solutions to help protect school children, public transit users, and employees on the move. The Company has unique photo enforcement and auto-ticketing solutions to deter stop-arm violations and protect school children. Gatekeeper has installed over 100,000 video devices for more than 3,500 customers throughout North America. www.gatekeeper-systems.com
Contact Information:
Douglas Dyment
President & CEO
ddyment@gatekeeper-systems.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. For more exhaustive information on these risks and uncertainties, the reader should refer to the risk factors described in the management’s discussion and analysis for the period ended May 31, 2019. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent our expectations as of the date hereof. We disclaim any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are presented for the purpose of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to obtain a better understanding of our anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company undertakes no obligations to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur, unless required by applicable law.
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