RCMP would, once again, like to remind the public of their responsibilities around safe driving in relation to school busses. A recent incident on Thursday, October 1st, at approximately 2:50 pm, where Stratford RCMP received a complaint that a female driver had driven through the stop sign and red lights of a school bus highlights the need for driver attention.
The school bus was actively unloading, and children were exiting and crossing the roadway. The vehicle was alerted by a second bus driver and stopped.
The driver of the offending vehicle, a 28 year-old woman from Stratford with a stage 2 graduated license, was issued a summary offence ticket in the amount of $1050.00 for failing to stop for the flashing red lights of a school bus under section 202(1) of the PEI Highway Traffic Act.
There is no excuse for breaking the law and endangering the lives of children. If you are sharing the road with a school bus and pass illegally, know that you will be held accountable and if caught and fined, be thankful that it didn't result in harm or death of a child due to careless driving.
Thank you to all bus drivers, and especially the second bus driver mentioned here, for your ongoing assistance in watching out for children and alerting police to those who do not.