Proposal to the National Proposal to the National Highway Traffic Safety Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)Administration (NHTSA)

Project Title: A Cooperative Program to Reduce Incidents of Vehicles Passing Stopped School Buses in a Coastal Region of North Carolina

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Stop Arm Violations - High PriorityDemonstration Projects FundedIssued up to 4 grants nationallyWhy North Carolina?

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

Stop Arm Violation Task Force Department of Public Instruction Guilford County SchoolsWake County SchoolsWilson County SchoolsGovernor’s Highway Safety ProgramHighway PatrolInstitute for Transportation Research and

Education (NC State)Division of Motor Vehicles

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

Time of Stop Arm Passings

AMPM

Number of Students at Stop

1-5

6 - 1011+

Front/Back Left/Right of Bus

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Frt

Rear

Left

Rt

# P

assin

gs

Type of Passing Vehicle

Car

PU/Van

Truck

Type of Roadway

2 Ln

4 Ln

4+turn

4+med

Urban/Rural/Paved/Unpaved

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Urban Rural Paved Unpvd

Issues

High Number of Violations ReportedDefinition of violation

When the stop sign comes on Is the bus still moving?

Court SystemVehicle EquipmentAwareness/Different Laws

Media event - August, 1997

Mike Ward

State Superintendent

Richard Moore

Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety

Janice Faulkner

DMV Commissioner

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

“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” .

Law Enforcement Involvement

NC Highway PatrolOfficer On A School BusStop for the School Bus

“Operation Stop Arm”- Guilford County

NHTSA Project - Target Communities

New Hanover CountyPender CountyOnslow County

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

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

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 countedKey Personnel:

Jerry Faulk, transportation director Thurman Casey, TIMS coordinator

Key Project Components

Bus Driver Stoparm Violation Data Collection

Transportation Information Management System (TIMS) Statewide system for routing/scheduling

school busesData Reporting: Mapping of Results

Key Project Components (cont’d)

Law Enforcement Response Data and Maps Supplied Local Expertise

Video and Engine AnalysisPublic Awareness – Air Time for PSA

Possible Stations WCTI-TV, New Bern WITN-TV, Washington WFXI-TV, Morehead City WECT-TV, Wilmington

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

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

TIMELINE

March, 1999 “Operation Stop Arm” Release results of Video

ObservationsApril, 1999 - Statewide One Day

Count of Stoparm ViolationsAugust, 1999 - Back to School

Push

Ongoing

Educational materials - school PTAs and community groups

NC Highway Patrol programs

Next Steps

Refined timeline and summary sent to all project partipants

Data Collections within a few weeksData reporting/mapping compiled