Some MPPs are hoping to give municipalities added safety for school children.
Laurie Scott, The MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, and MPP Dave Smith from the Peterborough-Kawartha riding announced last week the province has proposed legislation to add cameras to school buses as a way to give municipalities the ability to prosecute those who don’t stop when the bus does.
The legislation, if passed, would mean that there is more evidence and efficiency while prosecuting drivers that break that law. “Drivers who endanger the safety of our children must be held accountable. These proposed changes will help ensure that our children are protected while on the way to, and from school,” said MPP Scott.
Minister of Transportation Jeff Yurek said “The safety of our most precious resource, our children, is our government’s number one priority,” who goes on to say “we intend to create a regulatory framework that will allow for more efficient enforcement and prosecution to keep our children safer.”
According to the province, 837,000 students use the school bus every day. As well, most school bus-related injuries happen while the students are getting on or off the bus.