School Bus Stopping Law: Special Enforcement Program
The following information provides some suggestions to school bus safety stakeholders for organizing programs to influence the behavior of motorists around school buses.
The Highway Traffic Act, which governs road user behavior, is very clear on the responsibilities of motorists approaching a school bus:
"Every driver or street car operator, when meeting on a highway other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing." (HTA 175 (11))
"Every driver or street car operator on a highway, when approaching from the rear a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing, shall stop at least twenty metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing." (HTA 175 (12))
The penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus were doubled in 1997. For a first offence, the penalty for not complying with the law is a fine of $400 to $2000 and the assessment of six demerit points. For a second conviction, the fine is $1000 to $4000, and the assessment of six demerit points, as well as the option of a jail sentence.
While there has been little research into the actual incidence of illegal passing of school buses, anecdotal observation indicates that the problem is more widespread than the research has shown. To counter the problem, a number of communities have implemented awareness and enforcement programs. One of these programs has been successfully implemented in the Hamilton-Wentworth area.
What ... about "special enforcement programs?"
By working together co-operatively, stakeholders and local police services can initiate special enforcement programs to target illegal passing of school buses in communities.
"Operation Bus Watch" is both an education and enforcement program that reminds the public of their responsibilities when encountering a stopped school bus. The program began in Hamilton-Wentworth in 1993. Similar programs have been instituted in a number of Ontario communities.
Who ... is it for?
"Operation Bus Watch" provides school bus drivers, school bus operators, parent groups and the local police with an approach to deal effectively with the problem of motorists who do not stop as required under the "School Bus Stopping Law".
How ... Does it Work?
The program provides school bus drivers or others who witness a violation of the school bus stopping law with the mechanism to provide information on the infraction to the police. Police can then follow up and issue warning letters to the owner of the car that was observed passing the school vehicle illegally. If the driver can be identified, police can lay charges. The program serves to raise awareness of the responsibilities of drivers around school vehicles.
In order to establish a "Bus Watch" program, a number of factors must be considered. It is therefore necessary to determine, initially, which enforcement agency, or agencies have responsibility for the area in question. In some areas school buses travel on highways, county roads and local streets and a number of different operators have responsibility for providing school bus service.
Once jurisdiction has been established, and co-operation among school bus service providers and police agencies has been established within the jurisdiction of the school board, a single witness reporting form and process should be developed. It is essential that the form capture all relevant information and is compatible with police procedures. It is also necessary to establish criteria in order that school bus drivers and others know the circumstances around the reporting of infractions. It must be stressed that the safe transportation of school vehicle passengers remains the top priority for drivers, and that information should only be recorded when it is safe to do so. If school bus monitors are available, they may be able to assist in recording information. Drivers should be provided with written guidelines to follow. The intent is to create a simplified but effective system to identify and deal with "stop arm runners".
To improve the program's effectiveness, the public should be reminded of their responsibilities under the law, through information provided to the local media, news releases, radio public service announcements, etc.
School bus drivers or witnesses who observe an infraction obtain the license number, and as much additional information as possible about the offending motor vehicle and driver. An "Operation Bus Watch" report form should be completed.
The form is submitted to the school bus operator who then faxes it to the police liaison officer. The police liaison officer obtains the appropriate vehicle registration information. The registered owner of the vehicle is sent a cautionary letter. At the discretion of the police officer, a charge may be laid against the driver.
Once the program has been in place for some time, patterns related to illegal passing may be identified. Given the information which the "Operation Bus Watch" program has provided, it may then be possible to establish a more targeted enforcement blitz.
When ... Does it happen?
The program can be implemented and scheduled at any time. Because of the heightened awareness of "back to school" issues, it makes sense to highlight the program during the "back to school" period early in September. The program can also be implemented as part of other school bus awareness programs during school bus safety week (October).
Once established, the program should run smoothly and continuously.
Where ...does the program take place?
With the co-operation of local police, school bus drivers, school bus operators, school boards and the support of parent groups, an "Operation Bus Watch" program can be implemented anywhere.
Why?
School bus safety continues to be a high priority issue. The illegal passing of school buses which have stopped to pick up or discharge passengers continues to be an issue of concern for school bus drivers, parents, education officials and school bus service providers.
The following information provides some suggestions to school bus safety stakeholders for organizing programs to influence the behavior of motorists around school buses.
The Highway Traffic Act, which governs road user behavior, is very clear on the responsibilities of motorists approaching a school bus:
"Every driver or street car operator, when meeting on a highway other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing." (HTA 175 (11))
"Every driver or street car operator on a highway, when approaching from the rear a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing, shall stop at least twenty metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing." (HTA 175 (12))
The penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus were doubled in 1997. For a first offence, the penalty for not complying with the law is a fine of $400 to $2000 and the assessment of six demerit points. For a second conviction, the fine is $1000 to $4000, and the assessment of six demerit points, as well as the option of a jail sentence.
While there has been little research into the actual incidence of illegal passing of school buses, anecdotal observation indicates that the problem is more widespread than the research has shown. To counter the problem, a number of communities have implemented awareness and enforcement programs. One of these programs has been successfully implemented in the Hamilton-Wentworth area.
What ... about "special enforcement programs?"
By working together co-operatively, stakeholders and local police services can initiate special enforcement programs to target illegal passing of school buses in communities.
"Operation Bus Watch" is both an education and enforcement program that reminds the public of their responsibilities when encountering a stopped school bus. The program began in Hamilton-Wentworth in 1993. Similar programs have been instituted in a number of Ontario communities.
Who ... is it for?
"Operation Bus Watch" provides school bus drivers, school bus operators, parent groups and the local police with an approach to deal effectively with the problem of motorists who do not stop as required under the "School Bus Stopping Law".
How ... Does it Work?
The program provides school bus drivers or others who witness a violation of the school bus stopping law with the mechanism to provide information on the infraction to the police. Police can then follow up and issue warning letters to the owner of the car that was observed passing the school vehicle illegally. If the driver can be identified, police can lay charges. The program serves to raise awareness of the responsibilities of drivers around school vehicles.
In order to establish a "Bus Watch" program, a number of factors must be considered. It is therefore necessary to determine, initially, which enforcement agency, or agencies have responsibility for the area in question. In some areas school buses travel on highways, county roads and local streets and a number of different operators have responsibility for providing school bus service.
Once jurisdiction has been established, and co-operation among school bus service providers and police agencies has been established within the jurisdiction of the school board, a single witness reporting form and process should be developed. It is essential that the form capture all relevant information and is compatible with police procedures. It is also necessary to establish criteria in order that school bus drivers and others know the circumstances around the reporting of infractions. It must be stressed that the safe transportation of school vehicle passengers remains the top priority for drivers, and that information should only be recorded when it is safe to do so. If school bus monitors are available, they may be able to assist in recording information. Drivers should be provided with written guidelines to follow. The intent is to create a simplified but effective system to identify and deal with "stop arm runners".
To improve the program's effectiveness, the public should be reminded of their responsibilities under the law, through information provided to the local media, news releases, radio public service announcements, etc.
School bus drivers or witnesses who observe an infraction obtain the license number, and as much additional information as possible about the offending motor vehicle and driver. An "Operation Bus Watch" report form should be completed.
The form is submitted to the school bus operator who then faxes it to the police liaison officer. The police liaison officer obtains the appropriate vehicle registration information. The registered owner of the vehicle is sent a cautionary letter. At the discretion of the police officer, a charge may be laid against the driver.
Once the program has been in place for some time, patterns related to illegal passing may be identified. Given the information which the "Operation Bus Watch" program has provided, it may then be possible to establish a more targeted enforcement blitz.
When ... Does it happen?
The program can be implemented and scheduled at any time. Because of the heightened awareness of "back to school" issues, it makes sense to highlight the program during the "back to school" period early in September. The program can also be implemented as part of other school bus awareness programs during school bus safety week (October).
Once established, the program should run smoothly and continuously.
Where ...does the program take place?
With the co-operation of local police, school bus drivers, school bus operators, school boards and the support of parent groups, an "Operation Bus Watch" program can be implemented anywhere.
Why?
School bus safety continues to be a high priority issue. The illegal passing of school buses which have stopped to pick up or discharge passengers continues to be an issue of concern for school bus drivers, parents, education officials and school bus service providers.
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