Back to School Road Safety Reminder

Students across Newfoundland and Labrador will be heading back to class this week. As a result, there will be an increase in motor vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian traffic.

It's that time of year again to be extra vigilant when travelling through school zones. Students may not be watching for you.

The provincial government has provided some rules to ensure a safe school year:

• Drivers must obey the posted speed limit in school zones and yield to pedestrians using a crosswalk.

• Drivers must not pass a school bus while stopped and must obey the visual signals of the bus driver or the bus, such as the activated stop arm and flashing red or amber lights.

• Drivers are required to leave one metre of open space between their vehicle and bicycles or pedestrians where posted speed limits are 60 kilometres per hour or less.

• Motorists are also reminded that driving while using a mobile phone or any other hand-held electronic device is illegal and poses a serious safety risk to all road users.

Fines for illegally passing a school bus range from $500 – $1,200, and speeding in a school zone can lead to vehicle impoundment and fines from $400 – $1,800.

All registered school buses in Newfoundland and Labrador are also inspected; more than any other vehicle operated on provincial highways. The most recent inspections continue to show high pass ratings for bus operators with over 90 percent of school buses inspected receiving a pass rating.