WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – New Hanover County Schools reported 152 drivers passing stopped school buses in a single day last school year, according to the district’s director of transportation.
Violations recorded through the years
Every year the state requires all districts to take a count of stop-arm violations in one school day. New Hanover County Schools reported 165 in 2024, 154 in 2025 and 152 in 2026.
“The number has crept down a little, and I do attribute that to some of the safety features that we have put on the buses, the illuminated stop arms, the flashing lights. I think that has helped. But we still have 150 stop arm violations in one single day, and that’s 150 too many,” said Debbie Trafton, director of transportation for New Hanover County Schools.
Over the past two years, WECT has obtained several videos of cars running past stopped school buses in New Hanover County. Trafton said drivers must stop when they see a bus with red flashing lights and its stop arm out, even if the bus appears to be preparing to stop or start moving again…