Students and drivers are reminded that being safe around school buses is of vital importance to keeping everyone on the road safe, Education Minister Nancy Allan said as she marked the beginning of School Bus Safety Week in Manitoba.
“Every year, specially trained school-bus drivers safely transport more than 60,000 students to and from school daily, but injuries can happen,” said Allan. “Students, parents, school-bus drivers, school staff and members of the public must all take some responsibility for making sure kids get to school safely.”
This year, School Bus Safety Week is being held from Oct. 18 to 22. The theme is Be Aware – Know the Danger Zone!, which serves as a particular reminder to students and school-bus drivers to be careful around school buses, the minister said.
School Bus Safety Week is an opportunity for students to receive school-bus ridership training, to remind parents and the motoring public to be particularly cautious around school-bus vehicles and for school divisions to examine pupil transportation practices, she added.
To ensure the safety of passengers, safety equipment on the province’s 1,900 school buses includes stop arms and crossing arms, eight-light warning systems, roof-mounted flashing strobe lights, laminated safety glass, high seat backs, roof hatches, retro-reflective marking, heated mirrors and anti-lock braking systems.
The provincial Highway Traffic Act also focuses on school bus safety, Allan said. Drivers are required to:
• stop five metres from the front or rear of any school bus that has its stop signals extended; and
• stop and not pass a school bus from either direction except on divided highways when amber or red lights are activated and its stop arms are extended.
If a driver fails to stop for a school bus using its loading/unloading lights, drivers can face a $655 fine and
licence demerit points.
For more information and resources on school bus safety, visit: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/ptu/education.html.
