Asheville Drivers Urged to Heed School Bus Stop Arm Laws for School Bus Safety

By Kelly Doty and Madison Smith

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (HERE NEWS) — As the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction prepares to conduct a stop arm count, Asheville officials urge drivers along one busy roadway not to illegally pass school buses. North Carolina is helping the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) coordinate a national survey that will take place on Wednesday, April 17. The goal is to document the illegal passing of school buses to help highlight the need for improved safety countermeasures.

High-Risk Areas

Dr. Kim Dechant, the chief of staff at Asheville City Schools, urges drivers to refrain from passing buses when the stop arm is out, noting that Merrimon Avenue is among the worst roads where this violation occurs. “It puts our students in extremely dangerous situations,” Dr. Dechant said. Roughly 50 drivers in the 2022-2023 school year violated stop arm laws, and that’s just within the Asheville city school system, which works in conjunction with Buncombe County schools.

Importance of Vigilance

With hundreds of children exiting buses every morning and afternoon, it’s important to stay vigilant while driving because it could save a life, says Asheville City Schools’ Transportation Director Amanda Rigsby. “Because it’s a life. It’s a child’s life, and I think anytime you see a yellow bus, you err on the side of caution,” she said. “My advice to everybody when they see a school bus and a red flashing stop sign, if you don’t know what to dojust stop and wait,” Buncombe County Schools’ Director of Transportation Jeremy Stowe said. “It’s safest for everybody all together.”

Enforcement Measures

This has prompted officials to conduct research on stop arm violations, which has resulted in money for cameras to catch those violating these laws. The data collected will be passed on to the local police department or further and is subject to prosecution.

When to Stop

The following information is according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In the following scenarios, all traffic in both directions must stop:

When traveling on a two-lane road, traffic in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus.

For a two-lane road with a center turning lane, all traffic from both directions, including the turning lane, must stop for school buses.

For a four-lane road without a median separation, all traffic in both directions must stop for school buses.

In the following scenarios, only traffic behind the school bus must stop:

On a divided highway with a median separation, only traffic following the school bus must stop.

On a four-lane road with a center turning lane, only traffic following the bus must stop.

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This news piece provides essential information for Asheville drivers to adhere to school bus stop arm laws as a statewide survey approaches. It emphasizes the importance of following these laws to ensure the safety of students and emphasizes the consequences for those who violate them.