THUNDER BAY — Just six weeks into the new school year, nearly 200 incidents involving motorists passing a stopped school bus have been reported in the Thunder Bay area.
Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay, the local school bus consortium, says that's already almost 30 per cent of the total cases reported all of last year.
Officials call the situation alarming.
"Unfortunately this says a lot about many local motorists' attitude about protecting children just trying to get on and off the school bus safely," STSTB said in a Facebook post.
The same post refers to a situation on Highway 102 in which the operator of a pickup truck "gave our driver the finger."
As of this school year, all school buses in Ontario are equipped with flashing amber lights that are turned on to warn other drivers to prepare to stop when the flashing red lights and stop arm are activated.
STSTB, Thunder Bay Police, and representatives of Iron Range Bus Lines will provide additional information at a media event Thursday.
