Schools talk bus safety, changes in new year

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Summer vacation is winding down and it’s time to start really thinking about heading back to school. But one thing many people don’t think about is bus safety.

Starting on Monday, 148 buses will be on the roads in Brunswick County, taking kids to and from school. That’s up from 145 buses last year. But even with the increase in service, school spokeswoman Jessica Swencki urges folks to remain patient for the first few weeks.

“We know that drivers tend to take a little additional time during the first couple of weeks to make sure that their routes are being done with precision. That may take a few extra minutes as they get to know their students, and that may cause a few delays at the very beginning.  So we really do ask for patience,” Swencki said.

Swencki said that road work across Brunswick County should not have any impact on bus routes or schedules.

Across counties bus safety is a top priority. It continues to be something that school districts are working on improving.

In New Hanover County, buses will be equipped with new safety arms to keep children safe while crossing to get onto and off of school buses.

Across the state bus drivers are required to implement new hand signals to show students when it is safe to cross near a school bus.

“This is actually done out of necessity. Because we still, unfortunately,  have students in North Carolina who are being injured or killed because of distracted drivers running stop arms,” Swencki said.

These signals are posted online as well as will go home with students in their handbooks at the start of the year. Swencki encourages parents with bus riders to go over those hand signals with students.

Swencki said that bus drivers will not be able to make any special accommodations for transportation within the first 2 weeks of the school year. Any parents who have transportation concerns should speak with their school’s assistant principal after those 2 weeks are up to make any special arrangements.