It’s a timely message from the OPP aimed at keeping students safe.
With the school year well underway and the continued construction in downtown Huntsville known as, “Digging Downtown Huntsville” there is no more important time than now for the Huntsville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to urge drivers to slow down in school zones in an effort to keep children safe.
Motorists should be aware that there is often a reduced speed limit and increased penalty for not adhering to the speed limit in school zones.
Officers from the Huntsville Detachment have been and will continue to conduct traffic enforcement in school zones to ensure the safety of our community.
The OPP would like to take this time to remind motorists to pay close attention when meeting or following a school bus. Motorists in both directions must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and red lights activated and cannot start moving until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop sign has been retracted and the bus has started to move.
Highway 60 continues to be an area of concern in regards to vehicles passing school buses that have their red lights activated and stop signs extended.
Fines for not stopping:
• First offense $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points
• Each following offense, $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points, and possible jail time, (up to six months)
To report motorists who fail to stop for school buses call 1-888-310-1122 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. Note the driver and vehicle description, license plate, and direction of travel.
For more information on school bus safety please visit the Ministry of Transportation’s website by clicking here