Motorists reminded to respect school buses

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Police are reminding motorists that they will pay a steep price if they don’t mind their driving in the presence of school buses.

Norfolk OPP were alarmed following a report Jan. 22 of a motorist that went around a school bus that had stopped on the road with its red signal lights flashing.

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The incident occurred on Rhineland Road. Police say the vehicle involved was a northbound Toyota, blue in colour.

“This was a very dangerous act that could have had fatal consequences if an innocent child had been crossing the roadway,” Const. Ed Sanchuk of the Norfolk OPP said in a news release.

“Police remind all drivers to slow down and pay attention to the roadway.”

The fine for a first offence involving a school bus is between $400 and $2,000. The fine for subsequent offences is between $1,000 and $4,000 with the possibility of jail time. Motorists are also levied six demerit points against their driving record.

“This law is in place to protect our most valuable resource – young children,” Insp. Joe Varga, head of the Norfolk OPP, said in the release.

“Passing a stopped school bus is not only against the law, it is a potential lethal decision. Taking a few extra minutes behind a stopped school bus can prevent life-long regret from injuring or killing a child.”