The Cowichan Valley School District has a fleet of 37 buses that travel 3,200 kilometers every day.
4,265 children ride the bus in the District and Selena Hayes, Transportation Supervisor said the main cause of concern is the motorists who don’t pay attention to the flashing lights and stop signs when students are being dropped off or picked up.
“On average we get somebody running the bus at least once or twice a week and it could be from Shawnigan Lake area, downtown Duncan, Lake Cowichan, and the Chemainus area. It really is a problem that’s evident everywhere.”
Laura Elder is a newly minted driver with the District and said, “If they are going to run, you know as soon as you put on your yellows (lights), they will speed up. You gotta try and stay in the middle of the road and around the corners and make yourself as big as possible, it’s all you can really do.”
Constable Jordan Luscombe with the Shawnigan Lake RCMP said he’s seen it himself and police will get reports filed by bus drivers too.
He said the fine for passing a bus with the flashing lights on and stop signs out is 368 dollars and 3 points on your driver’s license.
