PLPSD hopes to keep kids on buses safe through spring

Spring has sprung, which means roads will become easier to drive on as the snow starts to melt away.

Despite the conditions allowing for safer driving, Shelley Anderson, supervisor of transportation for the Portage la Prairie School Division, says the nicer weather could lead some drivers to go a little too fast, especially near school zones.

"As the weather warms up, we're going to find more children finding their own way to school," explains Anderson. "Walking, biking, rollerblading, there's all sorts of different ways to get to school. Children aren't always aware of their surroundings and are quite unpredictable, so it's very important that motorists watch out for them."

She adds that when a school bus is either loading or unloading students, the bus will have the stop sign out with lights flashing. Anderson notes that you have to stay stopped until the stop sign is put away and the lights stop. It doesn't matter whether you're driving behind or toward the bus. The only exception is if you're on a street with a physical divider and you're driving toward the bus.

"If you pass a bus with its stop sign out, the drivers are trying very hard to get the license plate numbers of the vehicle," notes Anderson. "Their first concern, of course, is the safety of the students, but if they can, they will get the plate number, description of the vehicle and the driver, a report is passed on to the RCMP, and charges will be laid."

Anderson hopes that all drivers will take these tips to heart, knowing that nobody wants to be in an accident.