Thousands of students on the Island use busses to travel to and from school every day. The safety of children on those school busses is a top priority of the Prince Edward Island Department of Transportation and Public Works, as is the safety of those who walk or bicycle to school. That’s why, during the week of October 17 to 23, the Department would like to remind motorists to “Give Children the Right of Way,” obey the law, and drive safely, as the Canada Safety Council celebrates National School Safety Week.
Every year, across the country, hundreds of students on their way to or from school are seriously hurt as a result of highway collisions. Many of those collisions involve students getting on or off the bus. The Highway Traffic Act is clear when it comes to the rules of the road in relation to school busses. It states that every driver approaching from both directions towards a school bus that has its red overhead lights flashing must stop and may not proceed until those lights are off. Following that simple rule will help ensure the safety of the children on busses across the province.
“It is imperative that these simple rules are followed to keep our most precious resource safe from harm,” says Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron MacKinley. “I very often hear from school bus drivers on the Island who tell me they were passed illegally. That’s why, during School Safety Week, our department will step up efforts to monitor school busses in the province.”
For more information on School Safety Week, visit the Canada Safety Council’s website at www.safety-council.org