This month nearly 1.5 million students will return to classrooms across North Carolina. As bus traffic increases on our roads, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is reminding everyone to keep safety in mind when walking, driving or riding a bus on their way to school. While students on traditional calendars will go back to school on Aug. 25, students at year-round schools and some charter schools have already started boarding buses and have headed back to class.
According to a news release from the North Carolina Department of Insurance, statistics highlight the need for a call to action. On a typical day during the school year, more than 14,100 school buses carrying nearly 800,000 students operate on North Carolina roads. These buses travel over 181 million miles each year.
According to the National Safety Council, there were 128 school bus-related deaths in 2023, the latest year statistics are available. Most school bus-related fatalities were not drivers or occupants on the bus: Nine were passengers, while two were drivers. Most – 87 – were occupants of another vehicle while 24 were pedestrians. There were also 5,189 charges for speeding in a school zone and 968 charges for failure to stop for a stopped bus.
In addition to the safety concerns these charges carry, they also hold repercussions to motorists’ auto insurance premiums. Passing a stopped school bus can result in the motorist adding four insurance points to their policy and potentially doubling their auto insurance premiums.
When driving, if you see a school bus with lights flashing, slow down and prepare to stop. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off the bus. For safety tips from the North Carolina Department of insurance go to this link https://www.ncdoi.gov/news/press-releases/2025/08/06/students-return-school-commissioner-causey-reminds-all-drivers-importance-bus-safety
