Give them a brake Tuesday
With kids back to school Tuesday, city police and OPP are reminding residents to watch for stopped school buses and students.
It’s the law to stop for school buses when the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended.
That goes for all city streets, highways and county roads, no matter the speed limit or the number of lanes. The only exception to the rule is if there’s a median in the centre of the road for drivers who’re approaching the bus head on.
When approaching a school bus from the front, leave a safe distance between your vehicle and the bus. Drivers coming up from behind the bus should stop at least 20 metres away. Don’t proceed until the red lights have stopped flashed, the stop arm has retracted and the bus starts to move.
Those who don’t stop could face fines and the loss of demerit points. Repeat offenders could even spend time in jail. Fines for first time offenders range from $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points. Each fine afterwards costs between $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and a possible jail sentence of up to six months.
If a driver doesn’t stop properly for a school bus, call 911 right away or go the city police station on Water Street. You’ll need to know the time and date of the incident, the vehicle’s make, model, colour and licence plate, who was driving and details of the incident. Witness accounts and photos help, too.
OPP say 800,000 kids use school buses in Ontario every day. The laws are in place to protect them. Police also remind parents to educate their kids about bus safety, whether it’s on or off the bus.
Here’s a few tips for drivers from police to make sure kids stay safe:
• Be aware of school zone signs and reduce speeds in school zones.
• Always try to make eye contact with kids who’re waiting to cross the road.
• Be patient. Wait for kids to finish crossing the road completely before proceeding.
• Stop when a crossing guard tells you to.
• Always slow down at school drop off and pick-up zones.
• Follow the rules provided by your kids’ school regarding drop off and pick-up zones.
NOTE: For more information on school bus safety, visit the Ministry of Transportation website at www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/school-bus-safety.shtml.