Stop for school buses or pay the fine: Police

NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE SERVICE
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The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service regularly receives complaints from the public about drivers not properly stopping for school buses. 

We encourage all motorists to use caution while travelling in Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township, and to remain vigilant for vehicles transporting students to and from school. 

Please know the rules; 

• Drivers travelling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing
• When you approach the bus, stop at a safe distance (approximately 20 metres is recommended) to let children get on or off the bus and cross the road
• Do not move forward until the upper red lights have stopped flashing or the bus begins to move 

Drivers can be charged if they pass a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing. A first offence carries a minimum fine of $490 and six demerit points. Multiple violations can result in fines as high as $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time. Vehicle owners can be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, even if they weren’t driving. 

We also encourage parents to discuss school bus and road safety with their children. The more knowledgeable everyone is, the more likely we are to avoid a serious incident. 

By working together and obeying traffic laws we hope to prevent incidents and assure all students stay safe.

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