Summerside police cracking down on drivers illegally passing stopped school buses

Summerside Police are cracking down on drivers illegally passing stopped school buses while the red lights are activated.

'The potential consequences of that type of driving behaviour can be tragic'

Tom Steepe · CBC News · Posted: Oct 24, 2019 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 24, 2019

Summerside police have received 14 complaints since the start of the school year resulting in three charges being laid against drivers who failed to stop while a school bus had its red stop lights flashing. (Tom Steepe/CBC)

Summerside police are cracking down on drivers illegally passing stopped school buses while their flashing red lights are activated.

Beginning this week, officers have started patrolling hot spots during peak morning and afternoon commute times after receiving more than a dozen complaints from bus drivers and the public.

"It's a big concern for us," said Sgt. Jason Blacquiere, of the Summerside police.

"That type of driving behaviour poses a significant risk to public safety and the potential consequences of that type of driving behaviour can be tragic and our students, they're very vulnerable when they're getting on and getting off the buses."

More than 15,000 students ride buses to school every day, according to the Public Schools Branch.

The PSB said it has received 56 complaints of drivers passing school buses while they are stopped with their red lights flashing in the first six weeks of school, including 14 in Summerside.

Drills, routines help keep students safe on P.E.I. school buses

Province rolls out safer, more environmentally-friendly buses

Curb behaviour

"It's been an ongoing concern for a very long time," said Coun. Barb Ramsay, the city's chair of police services.

"We are getting more and more complaints all the time and it's becoming an issue and it has been an issue and our police services are really working diligently on putting this initiative in place."

The Water Street East area, from MacEwen Road to Read's Corner, is one of the areas with repeat violations, according to police.

'That type of driving behaviour poses a significant risk to public safety and the potential consequences of that type of driving behaviour can be tragic,' says Sgt. Jason Blacquiere of Summerside police. (Brittany Spencer/CBC)

Police said an increase in the number of complaints is likely due to inattentive drivers.

"With the media campaigns that've been taking place over the last couple of years and the enforcement and the attention that the increased penalties have been getting, it's hard to believe that people aren't aware of the issue," Blacquiere said.

"We're trying to curb the behaviour and hopefully stop the behaviour before there is a serious serious accident."

'Get control of the situation'

Three charges have been laid and police said they expect to lay charges in at least two more cases.

The top part of a school bus with a sign that says 'school bus' — Summerside Police will enforce a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to passing buses illegally. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Officers will continue to watch for drivers illegally passing school buses along Water Street, then move to a different area of the city.

Police hope the blitz not only catches drivers who put school children at risk, but also raises awareness about the law.

"It may not totally eliminate it because that's, you know, that's a difficult one, but hopefully it slows everything down where we can at least get control of the situation," Ramsay said.