THUNDER BAY — The numbers continue to prove that drivers aren't getting the message to stop when a school bus has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers, along with Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay officials, held a media event at St. Bernard School on Tuesday to highlight the issue.
Thunder Bay Police Service Const. Tom Armstong said it's a high priority on the traffic unit's radar.
"We're seeing a very common problem of cars sailing right past those [school] buses. It's creating a very significant safety issue and something that's of great concern to us," Armstrong said.
During School Bus Safety Week in October, Armstrong noted the sad and disturbing irony that reported incidents were double during that week than the previous month.
"That week there was, I think 40 vehicles were reported passing school buses in the city, which was higher than the month leading up to it," he said.
Armstrong notes his frustration that it remains an ongoing issue.
"We've tried to get messaging out there, and it seems to be something that is not getting through to people," he said. "If something bad happens, it's going to be real bad, and it's something you don't want to be responsible for."
School bus drivers are also voicing their frustration.
Craig Murphy, the consortium manager of the Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay, said there have already been more than 300 reported incidents this year.
In the last full school year, there are about 1,000 vehicles reported to have passed school buses.
"Trying to get [children] from the bus to their families can be quite harrowing," Murphy said. "There are systems in place to make sure that traffic should be stopping and making sure that they get off the bus safely. It's very frustrating for them when a vehicle passes the stop school bus and jeopardizes the life of the children that they're trying to protect."
The number of reported cases is expected to be just a portion of the total number, as not every bus driver reports instances of where vehicles have made an illegal pass.
The consortium started an awareness campaign in 2016 called 'Just Stop,' yet the problem has only gotten worse, says Murphy.
The penalty for passing a stopped school bus with its stop-arm extended and lights flashing is $490 and six demerit points.
Armstrong just wants drivers to stop.
"Whether it's impatience and indifference, lack of attention, I don't know. But pay attention, and when the buses stop, stop for it," he said.
"It's inexcusable."
