North Bay parents, school bus company concerned over illegal school bus passing trend
Every afternoon, Natalie Pouliot waits to pick her two children up at their bus stop.
She has witnessed cars passing the bus illegally and is always worried that something will happen.
“I’m not the only ones with kids on this road,” she said.
“Are they going to be neglectful and zoom right by?”
Pouliot isn't the only one concerned. Just more than two weeks into the new school year, Stock Transportation in North Bay said drivers still aren’t getting the message.
The bus company said in 16 school days so far, there have been 36 incidents of drivers illegally passing school buses while their red lights were flashing.
“So that’s when the bus is completely stopped and the red lights are activated -- that is what the Highway Traffic Act requires,” said Stock Transportation GM Tim Feick.
“So it’s not the stop arm or the crossing gate. People are still distracted out there and still need to focus, be aware and take precautions.”
The bus company said drivers are also still confused over the new amber light system. Ontario school buses were equipped with the lights this school year, which warn drivers the bus is about to stop.
Motorists are not required to stop when the amber lights are flashing, but the bus company is calling for common courtesy and respect so kids are safe getting to and from school.
“The law isn’t being broken. There may be a courtesy issue there,” Feick said.
“People need to travel slower and be more respectful and courteous of traffic. They may be able to anticipate traffic and school buses.”
Drivers who fail to stop for stopped school bus with its overhead red lights flashing or its stop arm activated can be fined anywhere from $400 to $2,000 and receive six demerit points for a first offence.
If they break the rule a second time within five years, the penalty is a fine of $1,000 to $4,000 and six demerit points. The driver could also go to jail for up to six months.
“What’s so important that you have to get where you’re going?” asked Pouliot.
“If it was your kids, what would you do?”
Pouliot is hoping motorists get the message.
“Just stop. That’s all you have to do,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.