School buses back next week

School buses are back on the road next week following March break. The OPP has some advice for motorists regarding the vehicles:

DO YOU SEE THE SCHOOL BUS LIGHTS FLASHING?

(North Bay, ON) The safety of our children is important to the OPP, and it should be yours. Next week our children will be back to school after a week long break. School buses will be operating on our streets and highways again.
The Highway Traffic Act, which governs road user behaviour, is very clear on the responsibilities of motorists approaching a school bus:

"Every driver or street car operator, when meeting on a highway other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing." (HTA 175 (11))

"Every driver or street car operator on a highway, when approaching from the rear a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing, shall stop at least twenty metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing." (HTA 175 (12))

Motorists in the area should expect OPP presence around school buses transporting children next week and throughout the rest of the school year.

OPP officers will be looking for all traffic violations, and will not hesitate to charge drivers if they fail to stop while a school bus has its overhead red signal-lights flashing.

Drivers will face a fine that ranges from $500 to $2,000 if convicted. For each subsequent offence, a driver can face a minimum fine of $1,000 to $4,000. They may go to jail up to six months; or, both, if convicted.

In keeping with a Mattawa and area slogan that was released last fall: Let's Remember Adam- Stop for the School Bus!