CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This week, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol will conduct Operation Stop Arm in an effort to promote traffic safety around NC schools, school buses and bus stops.
WCNC NBC Charlotte has covered this issue several times in recent months. One Union County parent, Brad Cunningham, recorded drivers passing a stopped school bus as a child boarded.
"With someone illegally passing the bus, they may hit another vehicle or it can be a chain collision being in an intersection and hit the school bus," Cunningham previously told NBC Charlotte.
In Charlotte, several parents have been asking CMS to move a bus stop as they say cars repeatedly pass stopped buses.
More than 14,000 school buses travel the state's highways daily with approximately 800,000 students traveling, according to an NCSHP press release. On an average school day in North Carolina, NCSHP said nearly 3,000 motorists ignore school bus stop arms.
During the week of October 21-25, troopers will be participating in each district across the state, Troopers will be patrolling school zones, conducting "Follow-A-School Bus" activities, and enforcing violations if drivers pas a school bus stopped to drop off or pick up students.