Hotline created to report school bus drivers

Raleigh, N.C. — Drivers and passengers on school buses can use a new state hotline to report school bus drivers for using a cell phone behind the wheel or for not wearing a seat belt.

State law requires that a school bus driver wear his or her seat belt while operating the bus. Another state law passed last year prohibits the use of cell phones or related technology while operating a school bus.

As part of a pilot project, stickers stating the laws and including the hotline number (919-807-3580) are being placed inside each school bus and activity bus in the Cabarrus, Winston-Salem/Forsyth and Guilford County school systems, as well as the Mooresville Graded School District.

Calls to the hotline will be routed to transportation supervisors in the appropriate school district. State Department of Public Instruction officials said they would monitor the effectiveness of the program during the first weeks of school before expanding it to other school systems.