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Coastal North Carolina Stop Arm Violation Reduction Program

Implementing a cooperative program to reduce vehicles passing stopped school buses in a coastal region of North Carolina. The aim is to address high stop arm violations through demonstration projects funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Key components include data collection, TIMS, law enforcement response, and public awareness efforts through PSA airings. Timeline spans from initial counts in 1998 to ongoing educational initiatives in 1999.

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Coastal North Carolina Stop Arm Violation Reduction Program

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  1. Proposal to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Project Title: A Cooperative Program to Reduce Incidents of Vehicles Passing Stopped School Buses in a Coastal Region of North Carolina

  2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • Stop Arm Violations - High Priority • Demonstration Projects Funded • Issued up to 4 grants nationally • Why North Carolina?

  3. Background : November, 1996 • Report on the Spring, 1995 Florida stop arm study presented at the National Association for Pupil Transportation Conference • Car that passed their stopped school bus hit two students in Davidson County • not only a problem in Florida but in North Carolina as well

  4. Stop Arm Violation Task Force • Department of Public Instruction • Guilford County Schools • Wake County Schools • Wilson County Schools • Governor’s Highway Safety Program • Highway Patrol • Institute for Transportation Research and Education (NC State) • Division of Motor Vehicles

  5. NC - baseline data in April, 1997 • 2,636 stop arm violations counted by drivers on April 15, 1997 • 1,935 stop arm violations counted by drivers on April 21, 1998 • Not as many counties participated

  6. Issues • High Number of Violations Reported • Definition of violation • When the stop sign comes on • Is the bus still moving? • Court System • Vehicle Equipment • Awareness/Different Laws

  7. Media event - August, 1997

  8. Mike Ward State Superintendent

  9. Richard Moore Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety

  10. Janice Faulkner DMV Commissioner

  11. Media event - August, 1997 • United plea for motorists to heed the school bus stop arm • Announced the results of the 1997 count • PSA distributed to all media in the state

  12. “The Bus Stops Here….And So Should You” • National Awards • Education Press Association • Distinguished Achievement Award • American Association of Motor Vehicle Records Administrators • Regional • National • North Carolina State Fair, October, 1997 • Stop arm violation awareness theme at school transportation exhibit • school bus stop arm law • PSA • Thousands of stickers: “The Bus Stops Here… And So Should You” .

  13. Law Enforcement Involvement • NC Highway Patrol • Officer On A School Bus • Stop for the School Bus • “Operation Stop Arm”- Guilford County

  14. NHTSA Project - Target Communities • New Hanover County • Pender County • Onslow County

  15. New Hanover County Schools • Over 21,000 students; about 11,000 ride 174 yellow buses • 1997 stoparm count, 93 violations counted • 1998 stoparm count, 80 violations counted • Key Personnel: • Michael Wayne, transportation director • Jackie Genes, TIMS coordinator

  16. Onslow County Schools • Over 22,000 students; about 12,500 ride 201 yellow buses • 1997 stoparm count, 61 violations counted • 1998 stoparm count, 40 violations counted • Key Personnel: • Jeff Smith, transportation director • Barbara Rooks, TIMS coordinator

  17. Pender County Schools • About 6,000 students; about 3,800 ride 85 yellow buses • 1997 stoparm count, 20 violations counted • 1998 stoparm count, 9 violations counted • Key Personnel: • Jerry Faulk, transportation director • Thurman Casey, TIMS coordinator

  18. Key Project Components • Bus Driver Stoparm Violation Data Collection • Transportation Information Management System (TIMS) • Statewide system for routing/scheduling school buses • Data Reporting: Mapping of Results

  19. Key Project Components (cont’d) • Law Enforcement Response • Data and Maps Supplied • Local Expertise • Video and Engine Analysis • Public Awareness – Air Time for PSA • Possible Stations • WCTI-TV, New Bern • WITN-TV, Washington • WFXI-TV, Morehead City • WECT-TV, Wilmington

  20. TIMELINE • Mid September, 1998 – Initial Meeting of Project Team • Early October 1998 – Take initial counts • October, 1998 • Produce maps • Initial PSA airing • NC State Fair

  21. TIMELINE (cont’d) • Late October/Early November, 1998 • “Operation Stop Arm” • Install Video Equipment • November, 1998 • Stoparm Violation Count # 2 • February, 1999 • Second PSA Airing • Stoparm Violation Count #3

  22. TIMELINE • March, 1999 • “Operation Stop Arm” • Release results of Video Observations • April, 1999 - Statewide One Day Count of Stoparm Violations • August, 1999 - Back to School Push

  23. Ongoing • Educational materials - school PTAs and community groups • NC Highway Patrol programs

  24. Next Steps • Refined timeline and summary sent to all project partipants • Data Collections within a few weeks • Data reporting/mapping compiled

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