Hundreds of school bus collisions spur renewed safety warnings

When the stop sign swings out and the lights on a school bus start flashing, drivers are required to stop immediately. But too often, they don’t, and it’s putting children’s lives at risk.

Over the past four years, there have been 451 collisions involving school buses in Manitoba, resulting in 105 injuries and endangering countless students on their way to and from school.

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and the River East Transcona School Division (RETSD) recently joined forces to remind Manitobans that school bus safety is a shared responsibility.

“Most students will ride a bus during their school career, and it is so important that we do all we can to make sure that each and every one of them is safe while getting to and from school,” said Maria Campos, Vice President & Chief Customer and Product Officer with MPI.

“Bus drivers are a very dedicated group of people who take the safety of our children very seriously, but it is hard for them to do their job when motorists ignore safety features on the bus or are not focused enough on the road to abide by them. We all need to do our part, and School Bus Safety Week is a good reminder.”

Elise Downey, Secretary Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer with RETSD, echoed that message: “School bus safety is not only the responsibility of our dedicated bus drivers – it is really a community responsibility.”

Among the safest vehicles

School buses are among the safest vehicles on the road, but danger arises when children are getting on and off. That’s why buses are equipped with highly visible flashing lights and stop arms to warn drivers to stop and keep the area clear.

Flashing yellow lights on a school bus signal that it is preparing to stop, so drivers should slow down and be ready to stop. When the lights turn red and the stop arm extends, it means the bus has stopped to let students on or off. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus from either direction unless there is a physical barrier, such as a median, separating the roadway.

Drivers in both directions must stop at least five metres away from the bus and remain stopped until the lights are off, the stop arm folds away, and the bus begins moving again.

Motorists who ignore these rules face a $672 fine and two demerits on their licence.

“These are not just traffic violations, they are life-and-death decisions,” Campos said. “Stopping for a school bus isn’t optional. It’s the law.”

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School Bus Safety Week is a reminder that behind every flashing red light is a child stepping into traffic. MPI and RETSD are urging drivers to slow down, stay alert, and make the choice to stop.

“Every driver plays a role in making sure kids arrive at school and home safely,” Downey said. “That’s something we should all take seriously.”