SafeBus North Carolina

North Carolina Cares About Kids
North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety
North Carolina State Highway Patrol

Español: El programa "SafeBus North Carolina" en Español
KNOW THE RULES!
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE DRIVERS SHOULD STOP
WHEN APPROACHING A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS

SCHOOL BUS
SAFETY LINKS

Bus Stop Safety Tips
A Message from Secretary Beatty
Secretary Beatty's Letter to Parents
Pupil Transportation in North Carolina
School Transportation News
School Bus Fleet Magazine
National Assoc. for Pupil Transportation
National School Transportation Association
School Bus Safety Web

Every school year, children across North Carolina get hurt and killed at their neighborhood bus stops.

Spearheaded by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Crime Control and Public Safety's new "SafeBus North Carolina" program seeks to change that. That's why we've created this web site to pass along some tips on school bus stop safety.

Like the "SafeBus" logo says, it will take a team effort to make that happen. Parents, educators, children, and motorists -- everyone has to take an active part in making sure our kids stay safe in bus loading and unloading zones.

"SafeBus" is particularly concerned with stranger danger. Even in our quietest country neighborhoods, we can no longer take for granted that our kids will be safe. In January 1998, a five-year-old Hoke County girl was kidnapped while waiting for the bus in front of her house. She was later found murdered.

Historically, most problems do not happen on the school bus itself but rather on the road outside. Student fatalities most often happen when children are run over by their own school bus. Nationally, most fatalities occur in the loading and unloading zone after students have departed the bus and are on their way home.
Between July 1997 and May 1998 in North Carolina, eight people were struck by or around school buses. None were killed, but three were listed as severely injured. Two of those hit were students hit by their own buses. Three were hit by other vehicles, and three non-students were hit by school buses. However, bus stop-related incidents do not get counted in these statistics unless a school bus was directly involved.

For example: In October 1997, a 16-year-old Richmond County high school junior was killed while waiting for the bus at the end of her driveway. A driver who swerved to avoid a dog in the road hit the teenager instead. In September 1997, an 11-year-old in Brunswick County died after being hit by a car. She had run into traffic while trying to catch a school bus.

In North Carolina, passing a stopped school bus while it is loading or unloading students carries a fine of up to $200, five driver's license points, and possibly 90 days in jail. A conviction usually means a 90% increase in a driver's insurance rates.

"North Carolina means business when it comes to protecting its children," said Colonel R. W. Holden, Highway Patrol commander. "Troopers are closely watching school buses on the road and especially when students are getting on and off."
Since 1997, the State Highway Patrol has cracked down on people who pass stopped school buses as part of its "Stop for the School Bus" program. Troopers periodically ride school buses as well as keep an eye on them from unmarked patrol cars. During the 1997-98 school year, troopers monitored 21,883 buses for 8,809 hours. They filed 3,575 charges; 290 for stop arm violations.

Dear Fellow Parents,

My wife and I cherish our children. We know you do too. Like you, we worry about them everyday, especially when they are out of our sight. I would like to ask you to join me, the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, and the State Highway Patrol in keeping our kids safe at the bus stop.

The success of the program depends largely on you.

In this web site, we have included some safety tips that I hope you will take the time to share and discuss with your little ones as they begin the school year. It is important that they know and understand them -- and that you know and understand them as well. Keeping our kids safe takes a team effort!

Bus Stop Safety Tips

A trusted adult should be at your child's bus stop every morning and every evening.
Children should be cautioned about the danger of strangers.
Be at least five minutes early to catch the bus.
There are blind spots where the bus driver can lose sight of a child: FRONT DANGER ZONE: It's never safe to walk close to the front of the bus. Children should walk five GIANT steps ahead of the bus before crossing in front of it. SIDE DANGER ZONE: Children should always stay three GIANT steps away from the side of the bus. REAR DANGER ZONE: NEVER walk behind the school bus.
Walk (don't run) three GIANT steps away from the bus when getting off.
When the bus approaches, step back from the curb at least three GIANT steps.
NEVER run to catch the bus.
If you have to walk on roads where there is no sidewalk, walk against traffic and out of the road.
Stay out of the road, and wait for the bus to stop BEFORE you WALK to it.
Make sure you can see the bus driver's eyes when boarding or crossing in front of the bus.
If you must cross the street to get to the bus, always look left, then right, then left again.
Use the handrail when you get off the bus.
Make sure there are no dangling pieces of clothing, drawstrings on hoods, untied shoestrings, keychains or backpack straps that could get caught on the handrail or in the bus door.
If you drop something under or near the bus, DON'T pick it up until you tell the bus driver. Otherwise, the driver may not see you.
If you leave something on the bus, DON'T run after the bus to get it.
Stay away from the bus wheels, and watch for moving cars.

En Español

[Crime Control and Public Safety] [State Highway Patrol]

Questions or Comments?

Last Update: April 6, 2001