The provincial government is looking at increasing fines for people that pass school buses with flashing lights.
Transportation Minister Todd Stone says 14 children have been injured in the last five years by drivers passing stopped school buses.
“At the end of the day it’s not our little kids that the onus is on to be safe. First and foremost the onus is on motorists to be safe and to be looking out for the little ones in and around school buses.”
“If those lights are flashing on the bus, if the stop sign on the bus is out, obviously that means kids are getting on or getting off and the onus is on motorists to slow down and to stop.”
The current $167 fine, with three demerit points, has been criticized for being too weak by many parents.
“School buses are yellow for a reason” Education Minister Mike Bernier said, calling the 14 school bus related injuries completely preventable.
In the same 5 year time period, police issued 1,100 tickets for failing to stop for a school bus.
Minister Stone says they plan on announcing changes by the end of the school year.
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