Ontario Provincial Police are reminding drivers across northeastern Ontario to stop for school buses with flashing red lights, saying children in the province step off the bus and onto the side of the road every school day. In a social media video, OPP said when kids step off school buses, they are on the road in seconds. “It takes two seconds to stop,” OPP said. “A few extra seconds can make all the difference.” “When a school bus has its red lights flashing, drivers approaching from either direction must stop,” OPP wrote in a social media post. “On a road divided by a median, only drivers behind the bus are required to stop.” Police said drivers are not to proceed until the bus starts moving or the red lights stop flashing. Penalties for failing to stop OPP said failing to stop for a school bus in Ontario can cost drivers up to $2,000 for a first offence and six demerit points, adding “no appointment, text or delay is worth a child’s life.” Reporting a driver who passes a stopped school bus Provincial police are asking anyone who sees a driver pass a stopped school bus to note the licence plate, vehicle description, location, date and time, and report it to the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or, if a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
