Last week we told you about a city police school safety blitz taking place from now until September 15th.

Now comes word that North Bay OPP are also undertaking a traffic safety initiative.

It’s called Safe Start and drivers can expect to see an increased OPP presence around school zones and bus routes over the next few weeks.

Police will be making sure vehicles stop for school buses and will be enforcing speed limits around schools.

“This traffic initiative will see all hands on deck, as every uniform officer working including myself, the Detachment Commander, will be patrolling during the times that children are making their way to school and back home. The OPP wants to assure a safe start to the school year for the children in our communities,” says Staff Sergeant Chris Summersby, North Bay Detachment Commander, in a release.

Motorists traveling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing and stop sign on the side of the bus extended.

Drivers are not to proceed until the lights on the school bus have stopped flashing.

Vehicle owners can now be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, regardless of who is driving the vehicle at the time.

Penalties include fines from $400 to $4000 and six demerit points upon conviction.

Filed under: North Bay OPP, safe start initiative