News Outlet Renews Call to #Brake4Buses
WNCN reminds motorists about North Carolina’s law on stopping for school buses. A reporter confronts a stop-arm runner to ask why she did it.
WNCN ran a story reminding motorists about North Carolina’s law on stopping for school buses. Stock photo courtesy REI
RALEIGH, N.C. — With the start of a new school year, local news station WNCN has brought back its #Brake4Buses school bus safety campaign.
On Monday, the media outlet ran a story reminding motorists about North Carolina’s law on stopping for school buses that are loading or unloading students.
For the piece, a WNCN news crew staked out a school bus stop and then followed a driver who ran the bus’ stop arm. When the driver stopped, the reporter approached her to ask why she didn’t stop for the bus.
WNCNlaunched its #Brake4Buses campaign in 2014 after the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reported that more than 3,000 motorists had illegally passed school buses in a one-day count.
The statewide count conducted this year again identified more than 3,000 stop-arm violations in one day. That was part of a national effort that tallied more than 74,000 violations.
In addition to public awareness efforts, North Carolina has taken other steps to bolster student safety at school bus stops, including the use of stop-arm cameras. Also, the state now requires all school bus drivers to use a hand signal to let students know when it is safe to cross the street in front of the bus.
In North Carolina, more than 13,000 school buses transport nearly 780,000 students to and from school each day. For more information on pupil transportation in the state, go to www.ncbussafety.org.
Watch WNCN’s latest #Brake4Buses piece below.
More Safety
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →