With school back in session, it means school buses are once again on the roads.
Drivers are being reminded to always stop when a school bus has its stop sign out with its flashing lights as children board and get off buses.
Avon Maitland District School Board Director of Education Lisa Walsh says its simple to revolve your work schedule around the increase of traffic for buses, to simple just take extra time for yourself.
“Please give yourself some extra time. Be patient with our drivers as they learn new routes and drive carefully to ensure our students arrive safely” said Walsh.
Police remind drivers that when driving on a road WITHOUT a median:
- Drivers travelling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing and/or stop arm activated
- When you approach the bus from the front, stop at a safe distance to let children get on or off the bus and cross the road
- Don’t move forward until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm is no longer activated or the bus begins to move
When driving on a road WITH a median:
- Traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop.
Those who do not stop for stopped school buses face fines between $400-2000 for a 1st offense with subsequent charges leading to $1000-4000, receive jail time or both as well as 6 demerit points on a drivers license.