ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — The Orangeburg County Faculty District is the primary within the state to obtain faculty bus upgrades with illuminated cease indicators and cease arms. District officers say these upgrades are being made with college students' security as high of thoughts.
“Proper now we see horrific numbers, excessive numbers, the place people simply form of [disregard] the varsity bus and that's valuable cargo getting on the bus and off the bus each day," mentioned director of transportation Keith Terry.
In accordance with Terry, this might occur as much as 30 occasions in sooner or later the place motorists refuse to cease for the varsity bus. When college students are being picked up within the early hours of the morning and dropped off within the evenings, the lights will assist make them extra seen to different drivers on the street in hopes that it's going to make drivers extra vigilant.
“It feels nice as a result of we’re transferring in the correct route and I hope it conjures up our neighboring districts and people all through the state to tag alongside and do the very same factor as a result of that’s the rationale why we’re right here. Our kids are actually our tomorrow," mentioned Terry.
To this point, there may be one bus inside the district's fleet that has acquired these upgrades by means of its pilot program. By subsequent fall, the district will consider knowledge to find out if they may proceed to improve the rest of its fleet.