OPP: ‘Disappointing first week of school’ as drivers pass buses

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say it was a disappointing first week of school when it came to roadway safety.

They say multiple calls came in across Southwestern Ontario for cars failing to stop for school buses.

At the same time in Hamilton, police charged one person with the same offence.

“It was a little bit of a disappointing first week back to school for motorists failing to stop for school buses,” said OPP officer Ed Sanchuk.

Sanchuk says several reports were made this week of vehicles ignoring the lights and stop signs on school buses.

“They’re big, they’re bright, they’re yellow and they have ‘school bus’ written on them. And when we see motorists passing school buses, they’re not only putting themselves in danger, they’re putting innocent children getting on the bus and getting off the bus which should not be happening in any communities across our province,” said Sanchuk.

The law requires drivers behind a school bus to stop at least 20 metres away. They cannot go until the bus moves or the lights have stopped flashing.

The fine for failing to do so ranges from $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points for the first offence.

But police say the fine shouldn’t be the deterrent.

“That ticket is never going to bring back a child if you strike and kill that individual,” said Sanchuk.

Meanwhile in Hamilton, police say they charged a driver this week for passing a stopped school bus.

“The bus actually picks up and drops off in our drive way – and we literally watch the parents of these kids stand in the middle of the road to get people to stop,” said a neighbour.

Sanchuk also says there was a stunt driving incident in a school zone in Wellington County this week as well.

“You’re putting an innocent life at risk just trying to go to school. This isn’t rocket science, we need to make sure anytime we get behind that wheel we follow the rules of the road,” said Sanchuk.

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