Although in-city school buses don’t use stop arms when dropping of students, city council still wants motorists drive safely around the big yellow vehicles.
To achieve that goal, council has authorized city administration to co-ordinate a community campaign with the Moose Jaw Police Service, the municipality itself, Prairie South School Division, Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, and Cornerstone School that focuses on safety around school buses.
This motion came from the transportation services advisory committee’s most recent meeting.
The current traffic bylaw does have a section that discusses why stop arms are not used in Moose Jaw, explained Coun. Chris Warren during the recent regular council meeting. Municipalities also have the option to opt out of using regulations that Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) has laid out for this issue.
“The committee … felt it was important to co-ordinate on furthering our discussions and our public awareness and education around the school bus (issue) in our city,” he added.
According to section 47, “No person shall activate the safety lights and stop arms of a school bus on a highway within the city.” If bus drivers did this, they would be fined $125, with an additional $50 tacked on as a surcharge.
Bus drivers are not allowed to activate their stop arms and flashing lights in the city because:
- It encourages children to jaywalk from behind a bus, which contradicts what students are taught about traffic safety
- Children may rely on stop arms instead of other measures to cross the street, such as school patrols, half signals, pedestrian corridors, and painted crosswalks
- Children may develop false confidence that all drivers will stop when the stop arm is activated; however, some drivers may not stop when the arm is down
- Motorists may not see the stop arm/signal or flashing light in a busy and chaotic urban setting
It’s interesting that the municipality would co-ordinate a community campaign on this issue when it doesn’t even own or operate school buses, said Coun. Brian Swason, who voted against the motion. He thought proper decorum would dictate that city council request that both school divisions participate in such a campaign.
Swanson noted that it’s a matter of jurisdiction and the municipality doesn’t have anything to do with school buses. Therefore, the request should go to both school divisions.
“A request would be more politically correct,” he added.
Warren didn’t see much different between co-ordinate and request. He pointed out there were representatives from the police and both school divisions at the meeting from which this motion came. All parties thought this was a good move and want to participate.
“I’m satisfied with the wording (of the motion),” he added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 27.
