Provincial police are cracking down following a rash of school bus crashes in southwestern Ontario.
Officers with the Ontario Provincial Police will take part in a new campaign this week called “Safety Stops Here,” targeting drivers who fail to stop for school buses with activated stop arms. Officers will also focus their efforts on unsafe passing, speeding and drivers who follow too closely.
“Risky driving behaviours around school buses are unacceptable,” Inspector Mike McConnell, OPP West Region Traffic Safety and Marine Manager, in a news release. “This initiative presents an opportunity to raise awareness through enforcement and education. The goal is to help ensure a safe end to the school year for students across our communities.”
West Region OPP members from 13 detachments will be conducting enforcement blitzes for school bus runs using marked and unmarked cruisers. Officers will also be selecting routes and following school buses to their destinations.
Police responded to nine school bus collisions on OPP-patrolled roads during the month of April. While no injuries were reported, the OPP said the frequency and risk to student safety is a growing concern.
The “Safety Stops Here” campaign runs from May 12-15.
