School buses taking to the streets beginning Tuesday

As buses get revved up for another school year, school leaders want bus safety on the minds of commuters.

In New Hanover County alone, 190 buses will be back on the road transporting nearly 12,000 students. With the increase in traffic, keeping an eye out for little ones is crucial.

“That’s the bottom line, we want to make sure that our kids get to and from school safely,” said NHC Safety Director Harris McIntyre.

Transportation Director Mick Wayne says people forget their driving lessons and disregard a clear sign to stop. “We’ve even had people passing the bus on the passenger side, before and it’s hard to believe but it happens.”

With flashing lights and a stop sign, you’d think everyone would stop, but officials say it’s not practiced all the time.

In a New Hanover County study, more than 100 infractions of drivers passing stopped school buses were found.

When a stop sign is out, always stop on a two-lane roadway in both directions, even if it is a two lane roadway with a center turning lane.

The only time a driver does not have to stop is when a four lane roadway is divided by a median and you are on the opposite side of the bus.

It is also important to teach kids safe habits, like not talking to strangers once they do leave the bus.

All schools districts except for Pender County will all begin school bright and early tomorrow morning. Pender County begins Wednesday.

Traffic officers will be stepping up patrols around school zones and unmarked cars will be following school buses to catch those who pass them illegally.