It’s Back to School! Drivers watch out for those buses

School buses are one of the safest modes of travel. The easily-recognizable yellow and black school bus is one of the safest modes of transportation on the road in Ontario today. Did you know that approximately 18,000 school buses travel two million kilometers, carrying more than 830,000 kids in Ontario every school day? And we can thank our professional school bus drivers for providing 300 million safe rides each school year!

Rules for motorists: it’s the law.

On a road without a median, drivers traveling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus with flashing red lights.

Stop at least 20 metres behind the bus.

Do not move forward until the red lights have stopped flashing or the bus begins to move.

The penalty for not stopping for a school bus is a fine of up to $2,000 and six demerit points for a first offense. The penalty for each following offence is $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time…..Ed

NOTE:Driver shortages and construction will cause delays in school bus transportation as the school year gets underway, according to Halton Student Transportation Services . Driver shortages in Burlington and Georgetown for school bus provider First Student Canada are expected to be covered by drivers from other locations. The school year 2021-2022 begins on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 for all elementary, secondary and adult/continuing education students of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.

Source:CAA /Photo: Government of PEI