4 Must Follow Road Safety Tips When School Buses Are Present

September 9th, 2014  |  Auto Insurance

September is here and the kids are back in school. This means the streets are filled with school buses and it is your responsibility as a driver to pay extra attention when driving in school zones, residential areas, and where school buses are present. The last thing that you want to do is put a child in danger because you neglected to pay attention to the rules of the road.

The rules regarding school buses are in place for a reason and you need to abide by these laws to keep our roads safe for children when they are travelling to and from school each day. 

Check out: The Ultimate Guide To Back To School Road Safety

The Fines Are No Joke

Putting children in danger is not the only thing you will have to worry about if you fail to follow the laws regarding school buses. The fines in Ontario range from $400 to $2000 and six demerit points – and this is for your first offense. Subsequent offences come with a fine that starts at $1000 and up to $4000, six demerit points, and the potential of up to six month in jail. 

4 Road Safety Tips When School Buses Are Present

Here are four very important road safety tips all drivers need to take seriously now that school is back in session:

1. Pay extra attention between 7am-9am, and from 2pm to 5pm: It’s important that you put more effort into being aware of the presence of school buses and children during peak travel hours for school buses. It’s also important to pay extra attention during the lunch hour. 
2. Always stop when the lights are flashing: When you see the lights flashing on a school bus, this means that you need to stop, even if you are driving in the opposite direction. Wait until the lights have stopped flashing, all children have finished crossing the street, and the school bus begins to move before proceeding. 
3. Slow down: Even if the school bus lights are not flashing, it’s important that you slow down. Seeing a school bus means that children are in the area, some of which may have just got off the bus. Driving slower gives you more time to react if a child makes a sudden or unpredictable move onto the road. Always be prepared to stop. 
4. Never pass in school zones: This is a major no-no and this is why passing in school zones in prohibited. If a car ahead of you is stopped, it is likely stopped for a good reason. Choosing to pass is dangerous because you have reduced visibility of what is ahead. A school bus could be stopped or children could be crossing the street. Be patient and wait for the traffic to clear. 

What are some of the dangers you see when picking up your kids from the bus stop? What needs to be done to make school buses and school zones safer for our children?