School leaders concerned about bus safety as students return
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- With many traditional calendar year students heading back to school next week, the state superintendent is calling for drivers to watch out for buses, especially when they deploy their school bus stop arms.
An initiative launched by the Governor's Highway Safety Program has now expanded to put more cameras on more school buses to deter people from illegally passing buses.
Bus drivers are already doing their part to watch out for drivers, but are drivers doing their part to watch out for them? Now, the state is doing more to make sure drivers are following the rules.
Really, it is simple. If you pass a school bus with the stop sign extended, you face a minimum $500 fine and could even lose your license. And, if you hit a child, you're faced with a possible felony and jail time.
"There is an increased danger as they are getting off or on a school bus, and this is because too many drivers are failing to stop for the school bus stop arm," said North Carolina School Superintendent June Atkinson.
Since 1999, 13 students have been killed in North Carolina while boarding or exiting their school buses, and four of those deaths happened in 2012-2013 alone.
Dale Folwell lived that nightmare when his 7-year-old son was hit and killed at his bus stop back in 1999. Now, he's begging drivers to stop and potentially save a life.
"When people understand that saving a split second out of their day can save friends and family a lifetime of pain of the children affected by this," said Folwell, "I think it may help prevent accidents going forward."
To further encourage motorists to obey the law, every county in the state has cameras for at least two buses. While these cameras are tiny, they can capture your license and lead to a conviction in court. They can also be removed and placed on different buses, which mean you never know when you might be caught on tape.
As for Folwell, it's been 15 years since his son was killed, and while he said seeing that death marked on a bar graph is a painful reminder, it's also the reason he tirelessly campaigns to warn drivers.
"I think my son would be happy that we, my wife and I both, have the courage to continue (talking about) this important issue," said Folwell.
Of course, students need to do their part too. So when the bus stops, students need to wait for the stop arm to extend. They need to walk around to make sure they are clearing the bus. They should also put away ear buds, put down cell phones, and make sure they are paying attention. You can't assume motorists will be stopping for you.
