According to OPP, there has been a spike in school bus crashes in southwestern Ontario.
Over the last thirty days, the OPP have investigated nine crashes involving school buses in various communities but no injuries were reported to any students or bus drivers.
School bus travel is extremely safe. Every school day in Ontario, over 800,000 students are transported in school buses that travel 1.9 million kilometres. They’re one of the safest forms of transportation, but safety doesn’t happen by accident – it takes awareness, responsibility, and teamwork from everyone-drivers, students, parents, and the community.
School buses are designed to be safe, with flashing lights, stop signs, high seats, and trained drivers. Even in incidents where no one is hurt, the risk is real and motorists need to focus on prevention, not just reaction.
The OPP list the following advice for parents, students and drivers:
Advice for parents: talk to your children about staying alert near roads. Remind them to wait for the bus to come to a full stop, to use handrails when boarding, and to always cross the street in front of the bus, NEVER behind it.
Advice for students: you have a part to play too. Don’t push or run when getting on or off the bus. Listen to your driver. Stay seated and avoid distractions. You’re the future, and your safety is a top priority.
Advice for drivers in our community: slow down. Be patient. Stop when the bus stop arm is extended. That pause could save a life.
Safety should never be optional-it should be automatic.
“The safety of our children is non-negotiable. Be vigilant and patient when driving near school buses. When you see a school bus with its stop arm extended, it means lives are crossing the road. Stopping isn’t just the law-it’s your responsibility,” says Inspector Mike McConnell, Manager, Traffic Safety and Marine, West Region OPP Headquarters.
