Minister Reminds Drivers to Stop for School Buses

The spring season gradually brings warmer temperatures to Nova Scotia. It's a time when students get excited about being outdoors. It's also a time when motorists and students need to be reminded to think safety near school buses.

"Drivers must be alert and stop when our children get on and off a school bus," Education Minister Angus MacIsaac said. "We teach our children to think safety, but as drivers we must be careful, too."

Every weekday in Nova Scotia, 92,000 students ride school buses to and from school. Over the school year, 29 million kilometres are travelled by school buses in Nova Scotia.

The Department of Education recently received feedback from the regional school boards that showed many Nova Scotia drivers do not stop at flashing red lights on stopped school buses.

Murray Goulden, co-ordinator of transportation for the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, said that school bus drivers need the support of motorists to ensure that students are safe.

"It's crucial that all traffic in dual or single lanes make it safe for students to get on and off the school bus, and stop for buses displaying red flashing lights," said Mr. Goulden.

Bus drivers in some school board areas recorded more than 50 red- light violations over a two-week period before the March break. While the number of violations was down from a similar review in 2000, Mr. MacIsaac said any number of violations is too high.

Drivers should stop (in both directions) 20 metres away from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights. Failing to stop for a stopped school bus exhibiting flashing lights can result in a $387.50 fine, and six demerit points on a driver's record.

"We have an excellent safety record in Nova Scotia, thanks to our school bus drivers, our safety standards, and the province's bus replacement policy," said Mr. MacIsaac. "However, as motorists we must be vigilant at all times, and stop when we near a stopped school bus."

A 2002 report by the U.S. Transportation Research Board found that school bus travel remains the safest mode of transportation to and from school. The report found that private passenger vehicles, bicycling and walking put students at greater risk than travelling by school bus.

Nova Scotia follows the standards of the Canadian Standards Association and installs alternating flashing eight-light systems on all school buses.

The province's school bus replacement policy is based on a bus life of twelve and a half years. School boards own 821 school buses and another 440 are contracted for school service.

Nova Scotia bought 64 new buses in 2002.