School's in, giving new meaning to the phrase 'Bus Stop'

First day of school on Tuesday for most students, and a friend of mine already almost saw a kid run over by a driver who doesn't understand the rules for stopped school buses.

From the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario's web site:

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Whether on a city street, highway or county road, and regardless of the speed limit and the number of lanes, motorists travelling in both directions must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing. A flashing stop arm will swing out while passengers are boarding or leaving the bus. (The only exception: on highways separated by a median, traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop). Once all passengers have boarded, the STOP arm will fold away. Do not start moving until the red lights have stopped flashing and the bus begins to move.

PENALTIES FOR NOT STOPPING

First offence: $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points
Each subsequent offence: $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time up to six months

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Seems clear enough.

For more information, visit the web site listed below (as usual, you'll have to cut-and-paste it into your browser because I still cannot figure out how to create a hot link in this damned TypePad blogging software. I do everything they tell me to do, and all I get is "The URL is invalid and cannot be loaded." If anyone has any clues, please let me know...):

www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/schoolbus/safebus.shtml

My friend also wonders - if someone DOES stop when the bus is on the opposite side of a median-equipped highway and causes a crash, is he liable?

My guess would be yes, but as my lawyer-father used to say, the sun doesn't rise in the east until the judge says it does.

As for the above photo, it too apparently came from the MTO web site, and I'm guessing it was a set-up. No way they'd be 'lucky' enough for that to occur just when they happened to have their camera handy!

Comments

[Greg H]

Especially since neither the SUV or bus have a front license plate.

By the way, watch out in B.C. because the Ontario exception of the divided highway doesn't apply. See here and here:
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/96318_05

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_bus_traffic_stop_laws

I also like the idea the buses have on the prairies where there is a flashing light affixed to the roof that is always flashing.

Seems unbelievable that people still pass school buses...

[John from Ajax]

Thanks, Jim, for making this blog entry. It is important stuff.

When I retired from corporate life two years ago, I decided to sign up as a School Crossing Guard, and I also hold by B-class (bus driver's) licence. As such, I get a pretty ugly perspective on drivers' habits out here in the Durham Region.

This past Friday, I witnessed a "soccer mom" with kids in her car drive clear through a stopped school bus, with signals flashing and students exiting the bus. Infractions in and around school zones are routine. People gabbing on cell phones while driving has become worse, not better, since penalties for doing so were increased. Stop signs are mistaken for being yield signs, more often than not. Speeding is a given. Earlier last week I stared down a Mitsubishi Gallant in the middle of the road, my Stop Sign waving and whistle blowing, who was simply not getting the message. Thank God she came to a stop one metre from my legs.

I (as well as all the other bus drivers and crossing guards out there) do what I (we) can, trying hard to keep the children, and myself (ourselves) safe, especially from distracted drivers and scofflaws. It can be frustrating to witness such ubiquitous irresponsibility, but there are a few glimmers of hope. Last May, a young driver ran through my stop sign while kids were crossing the road. To add insult to injury, he actually accelerated through my stop sign. I took down his plate number, description and description of the car. I reported him through Road Watch to Durham Region's Finest. Within a week, I saw him no more. Evidently he had either been grounded, or had found an alternate route to speed to school.

Please, everyone, just pay attention to the rules. But then, I am likely preaching to the converted.

Incidentally, the cream-coloured SUV in the picture is committing an infraction. Do you know what it is?

Cheers
J

[Jim Kenzie]

Hi John:

Thanks for the comments from the front lines. Scary stuff!

The photo I used was lifted from the Ontario Government web site and was clearly a set-up shot for that purpose!

I hope...

Jim