The iconic yellow school bus is a critical part of the education system and we appreciate the work undertaken by those who serve our students each day. Throughout Grey-Bruce, 325 school buses travel 38,000 km/day to transport 17,000 students to and from school daily. Beyond those who utilize the service to get to and from school, many students use school buses to travel on field trips or participate in athletic events.
School bus safety week provides an opportunity to talk about the overall importance of safety. Whether you have kids travelling on a school bus or are a motorist in a school zone, everyone benefits from an increased focus on road safety, obeying posted speed limits and carefully observing those engaged in active travel, be it walking or wheeling. Road safety in our communities is vital to overall citizen satisfaction.
Student Transportation Service Consortium Grey Bruce would like to remind everyone how critical it is to come to a complete stop while the red signal-lights of a school bus are flashing. There is a maximum fine of $2,000 and 6 demerit points under the Highway Traffic Act for vehicle owners who choose to disobey the law and illegally pass a stopped school bus.
Of equal importance to school bus safety around the bus is the conduct of students on board the vehicles. Please talk to your kids about expected on-board behavior. Simple rules make for a more enjoyable shared-ride experience – backpacks on the lap or under the seat, remain seated for the entire ride and keep voice levels down so the school bus driver can concentrate.
On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, we will celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Parents, guardians and school staff are encouraged to recognize their school bus drivers and monitors with a simple thank you or other small acknowledgement of a job well done, often under complex conditions.
If you would like more information on this topic, please contact the Consortium at “[email protected]”