The staggered return to school begins for some area students today with others heading back to class in the coming days.

That also means school buses are back on the road for the first time in six months.

Pierre Ranger with the Let’s Remember Adam campaign is asking drivers to watch for school buses and keep kids safe.

“Stop for that school bus, pay attention, slow down, have extra patience, watch out for the kids that walk to and from school. School hasn’t happened for a very long time and everyone will be on new terms with COVID and we just need to keep our minds on safety,” he says.

Before schools were shuttered and school buses were parked before March Break, Ranger says there were many reports of incidents.

“Daily reports of people not stopping for the red lights, not stopping for the school bus. School has been back in the U.S. for a little while now and I’ve had constant reports of people violating the stop arms and not stopping for the school bus in the U.S.,” he says.

As for cameras on buses, Ranger says the province has passed the regulations to allow them and now it’s up to municipalities to get behind the idea.

“The Town of Mattawa still doesn’t have the cameras on their buses, there’s just some clerical issues they’re working on, and we’re hoping to get them on as soon as possible. We would like to see them on all school buses across Ontario,” he adds.

Ranger’s brother Adam was killed 20 years ago when a truck failed to stop for his school bus in Mattawa.

 

In a release, North Bay OPP say in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act, motorists encountering a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing (the stop arm does not need to be extended), shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing. This applies whether you are meeting or following a school bus, and includes multi-lane roads. The only exception is when driving on a road with a median – traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop.

Penalties include a fine of $490 plus six demerit points for a first offence and range from $1000 to $4000, plus six demerit points and possible jail time up to six months for each subsequent offence upon conviction.

In Ontario, school-bus drivers and other witnesses can report vehicles that have illegally passed a school bus. Vehicle owners can also be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, regardless of who was driving the vehicle at the time.

Drivers are also encouraged to:

  • Be aware of school zones and reduce your speed.
  • Travel through intersections slowly.
  • Be patient as children cross the road.
  • Obey crossing guard instructions.
  • Make eye contact with the children wanting to cross at the intersection.
  • Obey all bus signals and never try to pass when they are stopped.
  • Give yourself extra travel time.

Drivers should also be prepared to yield to student pedestrians and cyclists. Parents of students who will be walking or cycling to school are encouraged to speak with their children about the rules of the road that apply to them.

Data Analysis has shown the locations that North Bay OPP has received numerous complaints of violations involving speeding near schools and vehicles failing to stop for school buses over the last 5 years. The locations include:

  •  Highway 17 between Corbeil Corners and Mattawa (and east of Mattawa);
  •  The Town of Mattawa especially John St and Valois St;
  • Highway 11 north of North Bay; and
  • Highway 654 near St. Gregory School.

Officers will be on patrol to help ensure the safety of children getting to and from school. Please take extra care around school buses and community safety zones.

 

(File photo by station staff)

Filed under: COVID-19, Let's Remember Adam, school buses