Dare County, NC (WTKR) -Many students in North Carolina headed back to school on Monday.
This year the Dare County Schools Transportation Department is taking extra steps to ensure students are safe getting on and off the school bus.
Students are now required to make eye contact with the driver and follow new hand signals.
"The driver will activate yellow lights with their hand sticking out the window. Once the driver says it's clear, the driver will then give a thumbs up and then a hand signal saying it's safe to cross," Dare County Schools Transportation Director David Twiddy told NewsChannel 3's Todd Corillo Monday.
Dare County is also getting more help to catch drivers who pass stopped buses by adding additional camera systems.
"The cameras are going to capture the license plate, the color, make, model of the car. And on a real good, visible day, we can even also get the driver's face," Twiddy said.
Several buses already have the cameras in Dare County, with 9 more slated to get them this school year.
Eventually, all 40 buses in the Dare County fleet will be equipped with the cameras.
