Students across Chatham-Kent are settling back into their school-year routines, but drivers are being reminded to stay vigilant with increased bus traffic.
Chatham-Kent Police have issued a reminder to motorists that when travelling on a road without a median, vehicles in both directions have to stop for a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing, don’t start to drive again until the red lights stop flashing or the bus begins to move.
Fines for a first offence for not stopping for a school bus range from $400 to $2000 and six demerit points. Each following offence could cost you between $1,000 and $4,000, six demerit points, and as much as six months in jail.
Police are also reminding drivers the vehicle owner can be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, even if they weren’t the one behind the wheel.