School Bus Stop Arm Passings: A Decade of Trying, Learning and Trying Some More

1. School Bus Stop Arm Passings:A Decade of Trying, Learningand Trying Some More Derek Graham State Director, North Carolina NC Department of Public Instruction

3. Nicholas “Nick” Adkins McMichael High School – Rockingham County, NC

4. The MotoristJudy Earline Stillwell

5. Remembering Nick Adkins

6. 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 (ITRE) • Division of Motor Vehicles

7. Data Gathering - First Statewide Count • April 15, 1997: 114 districts - nearly 13,000 buses • 2,636 Violations • Statewide each Spring since • Data gathering is very important • IF IT’S NOT WRITTEN DOWN, IT DIDN’T HAPPEN!

9. Public Service AnnouncementTHE BUS STOPS HERE….

10. NHTSA Best PracticeGuide

11. Operation Stop Arm • Stepped up enforcement • Press conference to describe what we were getting ready to do • Displayed the bus-mounted camera

12. Operation Stop Arm • Little media response • TV in one location; newspaper only in the other

13. Public Awareness

16. Trooper R. A. Hood

17. Valuable Insights • Involve key agencies before starting • Training of bus drivers • Gather data to identify problem areas • Make use of technology • Relationship with law enforcement • Remember that data? Make sure it is good and share it with law enforcement • Public awareness is effective

18. Getting the Word Out - The Role of the Media • Television Advertising • Radio Advertising • EXPENSIVE • Can’t do it - or can’t do it alone • GENERATE THE NEWS • Annual Counts • Special blitzes

19. Dalton FolwellMay, 1999 • Crossing the street to board the bus – struck and killed by oncoming motorist (female from Central America not aware of stopping requirements)

20. Local Task ForceCan Be Very Effective and Develop Energy – Needs a Champion • DA’s office • Judges • Law Enforcement • School Transportation Department

21. Stop Arm Task Force Interest Time

23. Stop Arm Task Force • Identify proper partners • Keep it simple • Meet regularly and keep making progress!

24. Operation Stop ArmN.C. State Highway Patrol February 7-11, 2005

25. Trooper Activity • Followed more than 1400 school buses (>10% of the fleet) • Ride-alongs on 163 school buses

26. 2800 Charges • 1133 Speeding • 606 Seat Belt and Child Seat • 236 Improper Driver’s License • 29 Passing Stopped School Bus • 27 DWI • 4 DWI under age of 21 • 778 Other

27. Continuing Efforts – Technology • Bus Routing Data • Equipment on Buses • Cameras • GPS

28. NC Law Enforcement Stop Arm Violations GIS Map Week of January 10th thru 13th 2000 Legend VIOLATIONS STREET NAMES CITY LIMIT

29. Brighter, Strobing Lights

30. Will they last? • Data seem to show a reduction in violations with brighter strobing lights. • Will they begin to eventually blend into the background?

31. Other Signage • S.T.O.P. Sign • CAUTION STOPPING • STOP DO NOT PASS

32. Global Positioning SystemsAutomatic Vehicle Locating • Verify operation of stop arm, lights, brakes, speed, etc at bus stop where violation occurred • Provide data to law enforcement for areas of concentration

33. Driver Intervention – The Best Technology ? • All the technology in the world is not going to prevent the thousands of daily stop arm violations • Most deaths are students K-3 • Who is there with that student?

34. Driver Signal – So That Students Know When to Cross • Liability for the driver / district • Yes……so? • Reinforcement, day after day, so that it becomes second nature to the student to WAIT before crossing

35. Video

38. Digital Camera Systems

39. License Plate Enhancement

40. Here’s Why We Need to Keep Fighting the Fight

41. Terrence HowardChatham CountyFebruary 20, 2002 Struck and killed by oncoming motorist. Bus had not come to a complete stop.

42. Priscilla NortonRobeson County April 16, 2003 • High school student • Exiting the bus when a motorist (66 year old female) went around the bus on the right side (brake failure)

43. Ana Maria SolaRowan CountyNovember 5, 2003 Crossing the street to catch the bus. Struck and killed by oncoming motorist. Student on his way to school.

44. Sheila HernandezRobeson County January 13, 2004 Boarding the bus when a truck slammed into the back of the bus.

45. Miguel PosadaRobeson County October 19, 2004 Crossing the street to catch the bus. Struck and killed by oncoming motorist (substitute teacher)

46. Education Education • Need to continually search for opportunities to tell the story so that motorists will THINK • CNN Piece

48. What’s the Silver Bullet? • If there is one it is the district CHAMPION. • That person in the school district that will • Develop relationships with law enforcement • Look for and activate partners • Try new technology • Get the word out

49. Will We Stop All Violators? • Nope

50. Is It Worth Trying? • You Bet THEIR Life it is!!