Re:Girl hit by car in Owen Sound
I drive a school bus, and a driver's biggest fear is having someone 'run your lights'. It has happened many times to me (mostly in front of the Inglenook Daycare on 2nd Ave. W.). But that is not unique, all the other drivers have had that experience. How someone can not see a huge bright yellow full-size bus with 8 flashing red lights is astounding.
When it happens, we do our best to get all the details; the make and colour of vehicle, licence plate, description of the driver (nearly impossible with tinted windows), direction of travel and of course, the time and the location. We radio it in immediately for reporting to the police.
I'm glad the news release mentioned that cyclists are also required to stop. I had a 'near miss' several weeks ago on 3rd Ave. E. when a cyclist ignored the lights and nearly hit a child disembarking from the bus. Yes, bicycles must stop too. However, with no identifying registration plate, cyclists are hard to report other than a description of the rider. I seem to be moving toward the opinion that if bicycles are now considered vehicles (as of Jan. 1, 2018), there may be an accountability gap here.
Those kids lives are not just in the hands of the school bus driver or the crossing guard, they are also in the hands of all other users of the road alike, both motorists and cyclists.
When you see a school bus with lights flashing, you must stop 20 meters from the bus, both directions. Here's a good rule of thumb: imagine there were 2 buses parked between you and the school bus; that will give you about 26 meters so use that as your guide.
Please stay alert at all times, and do your part to keep our kids safe.
Brian Barbour
