With the new school year just around the corner, drivers and students are being reminded to stay safe around school buses.
Janice White, general manager with Huron Perth Student Transportation Services, says drivers need to remember that school buses can stop at any time to pick up or drop off students.
When the amber lights are flashing, drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. Once the bus stops and the red lights are flashing with the stop arm extended, drivers must come to a complete stop.
White says drivers who pass a stopped school bus can face serious penalties, including fines of up to $2,000 and points on their licence. The offence can also lead to higher insurance costs.
White says school bus drivers continue to report seeing vehicles fail to stop for buses.
She warns that even one driver passing a stopped bus could have deadly results.
Students also have a role to play in staying safe.
Once on the bus, students should sit facing forward with their feet on the floor. White says school bus seats are designed to help protect students in a crash when they are sitting properly.
Huron Perth Student Transportation Services is also reminding residents that school bus companies in the area are always looking for drivers.
Anyone interested in becoming a school bus driver can contact their local bus company or visit the Huron Perth Student Transportation Services website for more information.
As students head back to school, White says everyone has a role to play in making sure they get to and from school safely.
