Motorists are being reminded about the importance of stopping for school buses with a new campaign.
I stop, you stop was launched today at the Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-Rivières by members of the Timmins Police, South Porcupine OPP and local Bus Buddies committee.
Bus Buddies president Ryan Hartling explained that the program is “to bring awareness to motorists and the public that school buses are carrying precious cargo, when a bus stops as a motorist you have to stop for the stop lights”.
When it come to school buses, the OPP remind drivers that if you’re on a road without a median:
- Drivers traveling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing.
- 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 or the bus begins to move.
On roads with a median, motorists in the opposite direction are not required to stop.
The cost for not stopping for a school busy with its upper red lights flashing is high.
According to the OPP, for the first offence the fine ranges from $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points. For subsequent offences, the fine is $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible incarceration.
Timmins Police Sgt. Tom Chypyha said the service is committed to ensuring school bus safety and takes complaints very seriously.
“When we do get these school bus complaints they’re thoroughly investigated and if there’s enough evidence there to warrant charges we do lay charges,” he said.
He noted that injuries and fatalities are very rare in the province.
“Most of the injuries do occur as a result of the students loading or unloading or crossing the street. So we’re asking for all motorists to be extremely vigilant, to be careful when entering school bus loading and unloading areas,” he said.
For school bus operators, if there is a safety incident, all the operators have a standard form to fill out and fax to Timmins Police. Chypyha said either himself or two other officers follow up with them.
“If there’s enough evidence there to warrant charges such as identifying the vehicle and/or the driver then we will go ahead with charges,” he said, adding even if the driver isn’t identified, the registered owner of the vehicle can be charged.
