National School Bus Safety Week starts tomorrow throughout Canada and the United States. This year’s theme is “My Driver-My Safety Hero.”
The North Bay Police Traffic Section will be following morning and afternoon bus routes in North Bay and Callander every day during this safety initiative.
"There will be zero-tolerance enforcement of sections of the Highway Traffic Act which requires drivers to stop for the school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing," says Special Constable John Schultz.
"When meeting a stopped school bus on a road without a median strip, stop at a safe distance in front before reaching it. When behind a stopped school bus, stop at least 20 metres behind it."
Failure to stop for a school bus carries a total fine of $490 plus six demerit points upon conviction.
In addition, From October 22 to 26, OPP will be participating in School Bus Safety Week using the message "I STOP, YOU STOP". The goal is to educate the public about the requirements of stopping for school buses, keeping our children safe and reducing the number of vehicles that fail to stop for a school bus.
The OPP wishes to remind the public to be vigilant when they see school buses travelling throughout the district. School bus drivers have the important job of ensuring the children make it to and from school safely.
Every driver, when meeting a stopped school bus with its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus. Every driver shall stop at least 20 metres before reaching the bus and SHALL NOT proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing.
Drivers and vehicle owners will be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus. Fines range from $400 to $2000 plus six demerit points for a first offence and from $1000 to $4000, six demerit points and possible jail time up to six months for each subsequent offence.
