An important reminder today as thousands of students get set to return to school and police step up their enforcement.
We know you've heard this a thousand times, but please pass this on to your friends and neighbours.
There will be a large number of school buses out on our roadways. Drivers must remain alert for the morning and afternoon school bus stops and watch for the students who are let off at the roadside.
The following are the requirements of drivers encountering school buses;
- Every driver, when meeting a stopped school bus with its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus;
- When approaching a stopped school bus from the rear, with its overhead red signal-lights flashing, every driver shall stop at least 20 metres before reaching the bus;
- in both cases, motorists must NOT proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing.
The penalty for failing to adhere to this important section of the Highway Traffic Act is;
- First Offence: $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points
- Each following offence: $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time (up to six months)
Vehicle owners can be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, even if they weren't driving.
School buses are also required to stop at railway crossings.
Some safety tips for students to remember:
- Never run to the bus or away from it;
- The "danger zone" is anywhere close enough to the bus that you can touch it. The bus driver cannot see you when you are in the danger zone;
- When the bus arrives, wait until it has come to a complete stop. The stop arm will be out and the red lights will be flashing. Always watch for traffic in both directions if you are crossing the highway;
- If you drop something near the bus, don't pick it up. Tell the driver or another adult.
- Students that do not take the school bus must remember:
- Always walk on a sidewalk if available, if there is no sidewalk you should walk on the shoulder of the road and walk facing traffic;
- When crossing the road use locations that have a crossing guard or a signaling device such as a traffic light, or at stop signs;
- If you are riding your bicycle you must obey all traffic laws. This includes stop signs, traffic lights, riding with traffic not against traffic and obeying crossing guards.
North Bay Police will be watching traffic and enforcing traffic laws along school bus routes, in community safety zones where speeds are reduced to 40 km/hour and at school crossings where young pedestrians are crossing the road with the help of school crossing guards.
The campaign begins today and continues every weekday until Friday September 15th, during peak hours when traffic congestion is at its highest: in the morning from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and in the afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“Our goal with our annual traffic campaign is to ensure that all children who are going back to school are safe,” said Staff Sergeant Rick Dubeau, Traffic Section, North Bay Police Service. “We remind motorists that they must stop for a school bus when its upper red lights are flashing, regardless of whether they are behind the bus or approaching it from the front. They must also wait for pedestrians to completely cross the road when they are crossing at school crossings with the assistance of school crossing guards. We also remind motorists to respect the 40 km per hour speed signs posted in community safety zones.”
