| Cautiousness around school buses needed |
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| Local Content - Editorial |
| Written by production |
| Thursday, 19 November 2009 18:29 |
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There have been many reported cases in Canada of students being hit by a driver trying to make his or her way around a school bus. Hays school principal Gil Farley has pointed out problems of this nature in and around his school. In fact he, along with Horizon School Division Supt. Cheryl Gilmore, have witnessed drivers being less than careful around school buses and in some cases, in fact breaking the law. Perhaps, as Farley stated, it is simply a case of locals not knowing the full extent of the law surrounding passing school buses in certain situations. If you were to wager a guess, it would seem more likely people do know the law. Whether they are in a hurry, figure they will not get caught or simply do not see the safety issues involved would seem to be more likely explanations for that type of driving behaviour. But when you look at the numbers, there is indeed a cause for concern. A quarter-million students start and end their day in Alberta with a ride on a school bus. Just looking at those numbers, it would stand to reason there will be a good number of students, whether they are distracted, tired or simply too young to know any better, that may dart quickly away from a bus on their way to their house or their school. Adults need to be aware of that, and take the necessary precautions. By the rule of the law, motorists need to respect flashing lights on a school bus, which are intended to create a safety zone for children around the vehicle. Flashing amber lights mean a bus is slowing to stop where students will be getting off or on. When the bus activates its red lights, motorists must stop, whether they are approaching a bus or following it. Motorists can proceed only when the red lights have stopped flashing. The fine for passes a school bus with red lights flashing is $402, and six demerit points. But a fine should not be the main deterrent. The safety of our children should be first and foremost in the minds of drivers. So, slow down, take your time around school buses, and make sure each and every students arrives safety to their destination. |
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