GCS Aims to Save Lives during School Bus Safety Week

More than half of the district’s students travel to and from school on buses

Contact: Laurie Hogan (336) 370-8307
Created: 10/22/2009 8:09:38 AM

Guilford County Schools (GCS) is joining school districts and law enforcement across the country this week in recognizing National School Bus Safety Week. The week serves as a reminder of the important role bus transportation plays in GCS and the safe travel of more than half of the district’s students.

This year’s School Bus Safety Week theme is “Avoid Harm, Obey the Stop Arm,” which emphasizes the importance for drivers to stop when the red lights flash, the stop arm goes out, and children get on and off of the bus. It is North Carolina law to stop under these conditions.

Throughout the school year, GCS partners with local law enforcement to identify areas most common to stop arm violations. Today, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department held an “Operation Stop Arm” to enforce speed limits in school zones and to look for stop arm violations. The 25 off-duty officers on the operation followed bus routes and monitored school zones. They found two stop arm violations and 32 other charges during the operation.

North Carolina bus stop laws state that all motorists must stop for the stop arm on two-lane roadways, on two-lane roadways with a center turning lane and on four-lane roadways without a median. Only traffic following the school bus is required to stop on roadways that have four or more lanes and a center turning lane or median. Drivers who do not follow the bus stop laws can receive a Class 1 misdemeanor and five points on their driver’s license.

In the district, 629 buses that travel approximately 52,000 miles every day carry more than 40,000 students to and from school. School buses make about 22,000 stops daily and transport students between the hours of 5:45 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. “Once buses get on the road, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the safety of our students,” said Jeff Harris, director of transportation. “All motorists should be on guard for students waiting at the bus stop and for stopped school buses loading and unloading students.”

Harris said bus safety also begins before buses leave the garage. Every 30 days GCS buses undergo inspections to ensure their safety. The district employs 55 mechanics to do routine maintenance work on all of the buses, including preventative maintenance every 5,000 miles. While School Bus Safety Week only lasts for a few days, staff members from the GCS Transportation Department educate students and community members on bus safety year-round. “Gus the Bus” and “Buster,” two interactive buses, travel to schools throughout the year to teach students about how they can be safe when traveling on school buses.

“We are encouraging parents, teachers, community leaders and bus drivers to discuss bus stop safety with students,” Harris said. “Parents are also encouraged to monitor children of all ages at every bus stop to ensure their safety and well-being.”

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About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 71,000 students at 120 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. 

Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship.  For more information, visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com.