Local police and the Cowichan Valley school district are working together to ensure the safety of children getting onto and off of school buses and are reminding residents to ensure they are following the law or they could be fined.
As a result of the many reports of vehicles passing school buses and the interest of child safety, the RCMP has teamed up with the school district.
Police will be following school buses in unmarked vehicles and ensuring that motorists comply with the regulations and not pass school buses when the emergency lights are used.
“Child safety is priority number one,” said Inspector Chris Bear, head of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment.
“Passing a school bus with the stop lights activated is both extremely risky and highly avoidable. We will be out doing random patrols to try and prevent this. Police are asking the motoring public to be aware and cognizant of this offence.”
The fine for failure to stop for a school bus with its stop lights activated is $167.