WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – We all want to help keep kids safe, but there is an easy way you can help: remembering school bus laws when driving.
Law enforcement agencies everywhere are asking drivers to remember the rules of the road now that school is back in session.
Beyond the danger to children, not paying attention can also lead to a ticket, points on your license, or a misdemeanor charge. For a quick public service announcement, when you see flashing yellow lights on a school bus, remember to stop. It’s a simple message, but officials say it needs to be shared.
”I just want everyone to make sure they are paying attention on the road, especially near school pick-up time and drop-off time,” said Officer Biss Kistler from the Wilmington Police Department.
Kistler says drivers should be mindful of kids and buses on the road from 6:30-8:30 a.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. The only exceptions to not stopping are when you are on the opposite side of the bus on a four-lane road or separated by a raised median.
“In North Carolina, it is a misdemeanor charge to pass a stopped school bus and we have a lot of technology here in North Carolina including school bus cameras and school bus driver reports where they can actually notify us of a car passing their stopped school bus. Once we are notified of that we track down the drivers and you are charged by a ticket or citation,” said Kistler.
Parents can also teach kids to pay attention to their bus driver. If they are going to be crossing the road to get on and off of a bus, the driver will give a cue when it’s safe to cross.
Kistler is also encouraging drivers to watch their speeds especially when driving near school zones. She says law enforcement will be paying close attention; it’s all an effort to keep everyone safe on the roads.
“I’m a parent myself, I have two kids in school one in middle school and one in elementary school and they take the bus every day from school to home, and that’s a big concern for me as a parent and I’m sure it’s a concern for all the parents here in New Hanover County. We just want to make sure our kids are getting to school safely and that’s where we come in as law enforcement,” said Kistler.
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