RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured inNCDOT Now, the department’s weekly newscast.
Safe to School Awareness
With school underway, Governor Roy Cooper declared September as Safe to School Awareness Month.
Throughout the month, state transportation officials aim to raise awareness of the danger that risky driver behavior creates for children commuting to school, especially for those who bike or walk. More than one-fourth of all pedestrians and bicyclists hit by vehicles each year are under age 19.
The greatest risk for children is not when riding a bus, but when approaching or departing one. To help keep children safe, remember these tips when driving:
Slow down to the designated speed limit in school zones;
Completely stop when buses are loading or unloading students;
Don’t proceed until the bus driver turns off the red flashing lights, retracts the stop arm and starts moving; and
Give buses at least 25 feet of space when driving
By following these important safety guidelines, we can help make sure that all students make it safely to and from school.
Governor’s School Supply Drive
Last week, NCDOT Secretary Jim Trogdon went to Bertie High School in Bertie County to deliver more than 800 school supply donations.
Each state agency was partnered with a county greatly impacted by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. NCDOT collected the items before Communities in School of North Carolina and Americorps volunteers distributed the supplies to classrooms in affected areas.
Gov. Cooper established the school supply drive this year to address unmet needs in North Carolina schools.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.
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