A new campaign hatched by a local politician aims to provide students with the space they need to get to and from school safely with classes set to begin in a few days.
Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day is launching the #TimeToStop campaign, focusing on taking extra care around school buses and zones.
Day said arriving a little early is never worth risking a child’s safety.
“When the stop arm is out and the lights are flashing, that’s the moment to stop, it’s a simple rule that saves lives,” Day says.
The campaign encourages drivers to slow down, respect bus safety signals and leave more room for kids to safely walk to and from school.
Day is also pushing for more school bus driver training and stop-arm rules to be mandated and consistent, similar to Ontario and Alberta.
He says B.C. should be leading on it to ensure every child in the province receives the same level of protection.
“We need clear, province-wide training requirements, consistent rules for stop-arm use, and public education so every driver understands their responsibility,” says Day.
Comox Valley RCMP is boosting traffic enforcement around schools and bus routes through the first few weeks of classes to ensure drivers are slowing down and paying attention.
The campaign runs through September via community outreach, signage and social media awareness.
