RALEIGH—Governor Mike Easley has proclaimed February 7-11 as Watch out for the Child week to remind drivers that they must stop when a school bus’s stop sign arm is extended.

Each school day, more than 2,000 drivers violate North Carolina’s school bus stop arm law, and two children were killed at bus stops during the past two years while trying to board their bus. In support of Watch out for the Child week the State Highway Patrol will be aggressively enforcing stop arm violations and other traffic violations in and around school zones.

The Patrol expects that their Operation Stop Arm will decrease violations and reduce school bus collisions. Across the state, some troopers will be riding with the children on the school buses, and others will be following the buses. Troopers will be driving marked and unmarked patrol cars, and motorcycles.

“We must protect our children from traffic dangers,” said Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. “This is the first time the Highway Patrol has conducted a school bus campaign simultaneously in all North Carolina counties cracking down on stop arm violations. Motorists who fail to stop for a stopped school bus will be charged with the violation.”

Passing a stopped school bus is a Class 2 misdemeanor, if convicted a person will receive five driving points on their driver’s license and is subject to fines up to $200.

"Every day in North Carolina, more than three-quarters of a million children ride the school bus to and from school. Throughout all those trips, the number one concern of drivers, technicians and supervisors is student safety," said Dr. Ben Matthews, DPI Director of School Support. "However, we need all motorists, not just school bus drivers, to obey school bus safety rules so that children will arrive safely at their destination."

For further information concerning school bus safety please visit the Department of Public Instruction’s school bus safety web site at http://www.ncbussafety.org/.

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