Safe driving reminders and regulations for sharing the road with buses and children.

Children boarding or leaving the bus may not be paying attention, so it is up to drivers to look for them. Avoid speeding, stop for the flashing lights and the stop arm, and look for students running to or from the bus.

Drivers must always have to stop for a school bus when the lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended and remain stopped until the flashing lights are off. Also, be aware that school buses must stop at all railway crossings.

If drivers do not stop for a bus with its lights flashing, fines are $400 to $2,000 plus six demerit points. A second charge increases the fine to $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points, and the possibility of a jail sentence.

The only time it is not necessary to stop for a school bus is if you are travelling in the opposite direction of a bus on a road that is separated by a raised median (such as Kingston Road).

Also note that if drivers are caught speeding or breaking the law in a Community Safety Zone, the fines are doubled.

Drivers are also reminded of the Province's Yield to Buses law, all drivers must yield to a bus that has its blinkers on indicating it would like to merge into your lane. Refusal to do so can result in a $500 fine.

Visit the Ministry of Transportation's website for more information on the Highway Traffic Act and safe driving.