SAFE FLEET NEWS

The departments of Transportation and Public Instruction, along with the State Highway Patrol in North Carolina recently held Operation Stop Arm, a joint effort to concentrate on stop arm violations and other traffic violations that occurred near schools.

A press release from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety states:

The departments of Transportation and Public Instruction, along with the State Highway Patrol held a joint press conference at the State Fair Oct. 20 to increase awareness of school bus stop arm safety.

This week, during Operation Stop Arm, troopers in every county of the state will concentrate their efforts on stop arm violations and other traffic violations occurring near North Carolina schools. Troopers will issue tickets, not warnings for violations.

Daily, more than 14,000 school buses travel North Carolina highways transporting children to and from school. Most motorists stop when they meet school buses, as required by North Carolina law. However, on an average school day in North Carolina nearly 3,000 motorists disregard school bus stop arms.

“Sadly, in the last few weeks we have had one child killed and three others struck as they were attempting to get onto their buses,” SHP Commander Bill Grey said. “This must stop. Whenever you see a stopped school bus, flashing lights and an extended stop arm, you should stop your car. It’s that simple.”