School Bus Safety Week

Friday, 16 October 2020 14:16

Parents, guardians and school staff are encouraged to recognize school bus drivers and bus attendants with a simple thank you or small acknowledgement of a job well done this week.

OXFORD COUNTY - Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services announced it is School Bus Safety Week.

Each year between October 19th-23rd, the initiative provides an opportunity to shine the spotlight on school bus safety and is celebrated across the province.

The iconic yellow school bus is a critical part of the education system. More than 1,110 school buses transport students every day in the counties of Oxford, Elgin, Middlesex and within London.

School Bus Safety Week provides an opportunity to talk about the overall importance of safety in the community, especially near school bus stops and school zones.

Whether you have kids travelling on a school bus or a driver in a school zone, everyone benefits increased vigilance, obeying posted speed limits and carefully watching those engaged in active travel, be it walking or wheeling.

Student Transportation Services would also like to remind everyone to come to a complete stop while a school bus' red signal-lights are flashing. There is a maximum fine of $2,000 and six demerit points under the Highway Traffic Act for vehicle owners who do not follow the law and illegally pass a stopped school bus.

Help celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on October 21st.

Chief Administrative Officer Maureen Cosyn Heath says it's important to recognize school bus drivers and the job they do.

"After a long hiatus last spring due to COVID 19, school buses are finally back on the roads. When the drivers returned this fall, they faced many changes. What remained unchanged was their desire to serve their communities. Now, more than ever, they deserve recognition for the job they do. They play an important part of the broader school community and we thank them for their efforts in keeping kids safe."

Parents, guardians and school staff are encouraged to recognize school bus drivers and bus attendants with a simple thank you or small acknowledgement of a job well done, often under complex conditions.