ROCKINGHAM — Rushing on the road can have serious consequences — especially if a school bus is involved.

For the second year, Richmond County Schools is partnering with local law enforcement agencies for its Operation Stop Arm campaign for the week beginning on Monday.

Stop arm violations involve illegally passing stopped school buses. Together, the schools and local law enforcement officers will aggressively enforce stop arm violations and other traffic violations in and around school zones.

“Our Operation Stop Arm campaign is all about raising public awareness,” said RCS Superintendent Dr. Cindy Goodman. “Although we specifically highlight bus safety the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 2, we hope drivers will be mindful of it every day.”

According to statistics from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, North Carolina has seen more than 3,000 stop arm violations for the past five consecutive years, with an appreciable rise since the 2010-11 school year.

“Our kids deserve to get home safely, and that’s why we’re doing this,” said Dennis Quick, executive director for auxiliary services. “We’re so grateful to our partnering law enforcement agencies, specifically the Hamlet Police Department, Rockingham Police Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Department and North Carolina Highway Patrol.”

For the second year, the program seeks to reduce the number of stop arm violations in Richmond County, reminding drivers that some of the school district’s buses are already equipped with cameras that can catch cars passing illegally, helping officers track down drivers who break the laws.

For those in need of a refresher course, here are some of the most common stop arm situations drivers need to pay attention to:

• On two-lane roads with or without a center turning lane, all traffic from both directions must stop when a bus extends its stop arms. On four-lane roads without a median, all traffic in both directions is required to stop.

• On divided highways with four or more lanes with a median and on roads with four or more lanes separated by a turning lane, only traffic following the bus must stop.

Visit http://bit.ly/1wiIt8W to see a N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles graphic illustration that shows stopped school bus traffic patterns for all five types of roads.

“We appreciate the community’s support as well as the cooperation of our local law enforcement agencies as we partner together to raise awareness for our children at the passengers’ stop,” RCS Transportation Director Corey Davis said.

Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @melonieflomer.

Melonie McLaurin | Daily Journal Starting Monday, Richmond County’s state troopers, police and sheriff’s deputies will be on the lookout for drivers who pass stopped school buses in violation of state law.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_STOP-ARM.jpgMelonie McLaurin | Daily Journal Starting Monday, Richmond County’s state troopers, police and sheriff’s deputies will be on the lookout for drivers who pass stopped school buses in violation of state law.

By Melonie McLaurin

[email protected]