Every weekday, some of Chestermere’s most precious residents are transported to and from school by way of a school bus. A quarter million Alberta students start and end their day with a ride on a school bus. For local school bus driver, Brian Wood, he has noticed an increase in motorists not following the rules of the road when it comes to sharing the road with school buses.
Since 2009, Wood has been a school bus driver with First Student, which is contracted by Rocky View School District to service all their schools in Chestermere. Wood says that lately, he has noticed an increase in the number of drivers in Chestermere that don’t seem to understand the rules of sharing the road with a school bus.
“The biggest safety concern I have with regards to other drivers within the City of Chestermere is the lack of knowledge the drivers have when it comes to approaching a school bus with flashing yellow or red lights. Flashing yellow lights at the top front and backs of the school bus indicates the school bus will be coming to a stop to either pick up or drop off students. (It is a warning signal, similar to a traffic yellow light. It does not mean to speed up). The flashing red lights at the top front and back of the school bus, along with a stop sign with flashing red lights which pops out from the driver’s side of the school bus indicates the school bus has stop to either pick up or drop off students. The oncoming vehicles must stop at a reasonable distance behind or in front of the school bus, as to allow the students to safely cross the street”, explained Wood.
Glenn Henry S/Sgt., Detachment Commander of the Chestermere RCMP Detachment did confirm that in Section 72 AR 304/2002 USE OF HIGHWAY AND RULES OF THE ROAD REGULATION, it does state that “Alternately flashing red lights – 72(1) Where a school bus is operating alternately flashing red lamps, a person driving a vehicle that is approaching the school bus shall, (a) when approaching the school bus from the rear, if the school bus is on a highway that is divided by a median into 2 separate roadways, or (b) when approaching the school bus from the front or rear, if the school bus is on a highway that is not divided by a median into 2 separate roadways, stop the approaching vehicle before it reaches the school bus. (2) After stopping an approaching vehicle pursuant to subsection (1), the person driving the vehicle shall not proceed to drive the vehicle past the school bus until (a) the driver of the school bus indicates by a signal that the vehicle may proceed, or(b) the alternately flashing red lamps on the school bus stop flashing. Specified penalty of $345.00. Courts may impose a higher penalty based on circumstances should the accused attend court.”
According to Transport Canada, school bus travel remains the safest mode of transportation to and from schools. It is 16 times safer than the family car. Maintaining this level of safety requires motorists to do their part too.
