In October 2015, an Ottawa school bus was one of four vehicles involved in a multi-car collision in south Ottawa, which resulted in injuries to 12 bus students, between 11 and 17 years of age.  The accident happened when the bus plowed into three vehicles that had crashed just ahead of it, including a flatbed tractor-trailer, a pickup truck and another vehicle.  As a result, the front of the school bus was almost entirely shattered.  Fortunately, none of the children were seriously injured; injuries entailed a few concussions and lacerations.

As the summer holidays officially come to an end, children in the Ottawa area and around the country are returning to school.  In Ontario alone, this means that almost a million children commute on a school bus daily.  And while research shows that school buses continue to be one of the safest methods of travel for children and youth, accidents involving school buses and other motorists do occur, as evidenced by the above incident, and it is prudent for all drivers – motorists and bus drivers – to be vigilant in maintaining safe driving practices.

Given that this is the beginning of a new school year and many children are again walking and being driven to school, it’s a good time to revisit some of the tips and actions that help keep the children in our community safe.  One important element affecting child safety that motorists need to know and understand is the law as it pertains to school buses, which includes the following.

Drivers driving on a road without a median are required to do the following:
1.      Stop for school bus with upper red lights flashing
2.      When approaching the bus from the front, stop at a safe distance to allow children to get on or off bus and to cross the road
3.      Do not move forward until the red lights stop flashing or the bus begins to move.

For drivers driving on a road with a median, traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop but the same rules above apply to drivers coming in the same direction as the school bus.

The penalty for breaking any of these rules can be stiff, but underline the importance of taking extra care where children are embarking or disembarking from a school bus, as this is an activity that can and has resulted in the loss of life when a driver strikes a child crossing the street. For passing a school bus while the upper red lights are flashing, a driver can be charged anywhere between $400 to $2000 for a first offense, as well as receive six demerit points. Every subsequent offence of that nature carries a $1000 to $4000 charge, six demerit points and possible jail time. Owners may also be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, whether or not they were driving the vehicle at the time.

However, the onus isn’t solely on other motorists in maintaining children’s safety as they ride the bus. Bus drivers have a duty of care to ensure that they are as careful and diligent in their handling of the bus and ensuring the safety of all those on board. Similarly, parents have a responsibility to ensure their children are properly trained in understanding the safe way to take the bus.

The Ontario School Bus Association (OSBA) has compiled a list of safety rules for students, as well as for parents to instill into their children, for getting on and off the bus, riding the bus and crossing the street to get to the bus. Some of these rules include:

Getting on and off the bus:

• Be at the bus stop before it arrives
• Wait for the bus at a safe distance away from the road
• Wait for the driver’s signal to get on the bus
• Always use the handrail
• Don’t push or shove

While on the bus, it is important students:

• Sit facing the driver, feet in front
• Keep their hands and head inside the bus
• Keep the aisle clear
• Always follow the bus driver’s instructions

 When crossing the road to get to the bus, students should:

• Always cross the road in front of the bus, never behind
• Walk, never run across the road
• Pass the crossing arm; stop and look at the driver to give you the signal to cross

For more safety tips and information regarding school buses, visit the official OSBA website.

Heading back to school is often an exciting and fun time for students. Having that marred by an accident can be a devastating event and one that we can all do our part to avoid. At Burn Tucker Lachaîne, we have seen the emotional and physical toll that car accidents and school bus accidents have on accident victims and their loved ones. We urge everyone to practice caution and keep our children safe going forward into the 2016/2017 school year.