Province to review fines for failure to yield to stopped school buses

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Province will be reviewing the fines currently in place for drivers that fail to yield to a stopped school bus.

This move following months of campaigning by School District 60 bus driver Cindy Dettling, who Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone thanked for her hard work and efforts.

The current penalty for drivers that fail to yield to school buses is $167 and three demerit points. Many, including Dettling, argue that this is not enough to deter drivers from doing it.

“Failing to stop puts children at risk, and this is a concern to all British Columbians,” said Stone.

Between 2009 and 2014, police in B.C. issued 1,100 tickets for failing to stop for a school bus. While no children have died while getting on or off the school bus, 14 children have been injured.

Minister of Education, Mike Bernier, said this review is another step in keeping children safe.

“Parents expect their children to come home safely at the end of the school day – and our Education system is focused on this each and every day,” he added.

“School buses are yellow for a reason – it means ‘pay attention and be cautious.’ We all need to double our attention to safety when we see a school bus.”