RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in
NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.
Bus Safety Week
It’s School Bus Safety Week. Did you know the school bus is the safest way to travel to and from school?
According to the American School Bus Council, students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely if they take the bus instead of a car.
But still, parents can help teach their children important safety rules when getting on and off the bus:
- When on the way to the bus stop, use the sidewalk;
- Cross the street in front of the bus, never behind it; and
- Respect the danger zone by staying ten steps away from the bus and where the driver can see you.
Head to
NCDOT.gov and search ‘bus safety’ for additional tips.
Halloween Tips
Keeping kids in mind, next Thursday many will turn into princesses and superheroes as they walk door to door on Halloween.
More than 2,200 pedestrians are hurt or killed in collisions with vehicles in North Carolina each year, most happen in the evening or at night.
- Before children begin trick-or-treating, parents are encouraged to:
- Plan and discuss a safe route;
- Walk on sidewalks – and if there’s not one, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic;
- Look both ways when crossing the street and use the crosswalk when available; and
- Make sure children have a flashlight, glow stick or are wearing reflective gear.
Drivers should be especially alert on Halloween. To find more information, go to
NCDOT.gov.
Halloween 'Booze It & Lose It' Campaign
But nothing could be scarier than a drunk driver on Halloween. The
Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Halloween ‘Booze It and Lose It’ campaign runs from October 28 to November 3.
If you plan to drink on October 31,
- Plan a way to safely get home before the Halloween festivities begin;
- Always designate a sober driver;
- Know that walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving; and
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, call your local law enforcement.
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.