Ontario Provincial Police have sent out a stern warning that drivers must mind stopped school buses.
With thousands of Windsor-Essex children back in class this week, the buses have returned to the road, and the OPP has reminded drivers to be extra vigilant around school buses and when driving in school zones.
The warning was made necessary after police got a call from a resident who spotted a driver blowing past a stopped school bus this week in the area of Conservation and Marshwoods Boulevards in Kingsville. The bus was stopped with its lights on and the "stop" arm in the out position.
"This was a very dangerous act that could have had fatal consequences if an innocent child had been crossing the roadway," said Constable Steven Duguay. "Police are reminding all drivers to slow down and to pay attention to the roadway."
If the driver can't be identified, the OPP says the vehicle's owner can get fined if someone gets the licence plate. Upon conviction, a driver can be fined between $400 and $2,000 for a first offence and between $1,000 and $4,000 for repeats. The citation also means six demerit points on the driver's record.
When approaching a school bus from the front with its red lights on and the "stop" arm out, drivers must stop and stay there until the red lights are turned off, and the bus resumes moving.
