Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO), the newly created transportation consortium for the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) and the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), is joining other transportation consortiums and school transportation companies across Ontario in celebrating the importance of school bus safety during School Bus Safety Week.
Brockville - Oct. 11, 2011 - Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO), the newly created transportation consortium for the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) and the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), is joining other transportation consortiums and school transportation companies across Ontario in celebrating the importance of school bus safety during School Bus Safety Week.
In the Province of Ontario, over 800,000 children and teenagers ride safely in over 18,000 school buses to and from school every day. Studies show that school buses are the safest method for transporting young people - up to 16 times safer than passenger cars.
"Ensuring the safety of students as they enter and exit the bus is crucial," said STEO General Manager and Chief Administrative Officer, Ron Cotnam. "We are training our bus drivers to be cautious, but we need help from parents and motorist to make sure they watch for school buses stopped to load and unload children. No issue is so urgent that motorists cannot wait for a school bus."
The law requires motorists to stop for a school bus anytime it has stopped to load or unload. In Ontario, buses display red flashing lights and a stop sign is extended from the side of the bus to alert motorists to stop.
Mr. Cotnam offers the following tips for students as they get on and off the bus:
- Always remain in direct view of the bus driver;
- Always cross in front of the bus, but only when the bus driver signals it is safe to do so.
- Always follow the driver?s directions for how to cross the street;
- Take 10 giant steps back from the curb while waiting for the bus and 10 steps when exiting the bus;
- Be alert to traffic and look both ways;
- Never try to get anything left on the bus after exiting;
- Never reach underneath the bus;
- Get to the bus stop in plenty of time.
Bus contractors throughout the region will be conducting contests and promotions in conjunction with local schools in support of School Bus Safety Week, and student safety. Police Departments throughout the region will also be diligent in ensuring drivers are following all rules and laws.
