It's been nearly six months since school buses have been on the roadways and Chatham-Kent police are making sure other motorists are prepared to safely start sharing the road with them once again.
With school starting back up on Tuesday, drivers are reminded that on a road without a median, vehicles travelling in both directions must stop for a school bus with its upper red lights flashing. Failing to do so can come with some hefty consequences including a fine of up to $2,000 for the first offence and fines of up to $4,000 for each additional offence along with several demerit points.
Vehicle owners can also be charged if their vehicle is caught illegally passing a school bus, even if the owner is not the one driving.
Anyone approaching a school bus is asked to stop approximately 20 metres away from the back of the bus to allow for a safe distance for students to get on and off the vehicle and cross the street.
When driving on a road with a median, traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop.
"Every year, school bus drivers like Cynthia Luimes, do their part in trying to get kids to and from school safely," read a media release. "However... there have been 53 collisions involving buses within the past three years in Chatham-Kent."
"Everyone has a part to play when it comes to road safety. Therefore, this school year, won’t you please ‘Give Buses a Brake’"
The Chatham-Kent Police Traffic Management Unit will be out across the municipality as school restarts this coming week, specifically targeting school bus-related offences.
Officers will also be conducting speed enforcement in school zones and monitoring crosswalks around the municipality.
