New video highlights an ongoing problem which school bus drivers say they continue to observe on a regular basis – vehicles failing to stop for a stopped school bus.
CTV News went for a ride-along on a Winnipeg School Division bus during its morning run and saw a handful of infractions.
In a little more than an hour, our camera captured six vehicles driving past the school bus when it had its red lights flashing and stop sign extended.
School bus driver Menno Friesen said it’s been a common occurrence in his 18 year career.
“Drivers know the stop sign’s out, but they’ll sneak out, especially if it’s like two lanes over,” said Friesen. “It’s illegal. It’s dangerous.”
Friesen tries to record the license plates of vehicles when a driver breaks the rule, but he said it's difficult to do, because he's usually helping elementary school students board the bus and get seated.
The rules around stopped school buses with flashing lights and stop signs extended require drivers travelling in any direction to stop at least five metres from the school bus before passing it.
Seven Oaks School Division participated in a pilot project which saw cameras installed on school buses.
The pilot project found vehicles in urban areas failed to stop 7.1 per cent of the time.
The number in rural areas came in lower at 2.1 per cent.
Seven Oaks superintendent Brian O’Leary said the video evidence alone isn’t enough to prosecute a driver.
“We’re free to put cameras on buses, but that doesn’t generate a ticket,” said O’Leary.
Manitoba Education said keeping students safe is a priority.
A department spokesperson said the government has worked hard to minimize risk to students.
The province pointed to stronger enforcement of school zones and “Do Not Pass” laws, increased fines for passing a school bus while loading and additional certification and training requirements for school bus drivers and transportation supervisors.
The province said school divisions are able to retrofit existing buses to have exterior cameras or they can be purchased as part of new school buses.