Summer is drawing to a close. As the hours of sunlight diminish, the leaves change colour before falling and something very familiar will soon end its “summer hibernation” and reappear on our roads. What, you ask? The school bus.

Both residents and visitors must again learn to live with school buses and adopt good road behaviour. School buses preparing to stop so that students can climb on or off will switch on their yellow flashing lights. It is important that you stop immediately, whether you are in the lane facing or following a school bus that turns on its flashers. The bus driver will then extend their stop sign and switch on the red flashing lights. At that point, all car drivers and other road users must stop at least five metres from the bus. It’s the same for a vehicle approaching a school bus but crossing the lane in which the bus is stopped.

If you break this law.…

The penalty for passing a school bus, whichever direction you are traveling, when the lights are flashing, is $200 and nine demerit points.

For their safety

In spite of perhaps being a bit disappointed to be starting school again, our youngsters can count on an experienced team to ensure their safety both going to and coming from school. In addition to the police cadets present for the back-to-school period, the Mont-Tremblant police force has two crossing guards who are much appreciated by the primary school students: Diane and Nadine. They are stationed, respectively, on rue Labelle and at the intersection of Charbonneau and Saint-Antoine.

True or false 

1. The penalty for disobeying the order of a crossing guard is $100, the same as the fine for not stopping at a stop sign or red light.

FALSE

The penalty for a road vehicle driver who does not obey the orders of a signaller, crossing guard or peace officer is $200 and four demerit points.

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2. You are driving a car and want to turn right at the intersection. A crossing guard is opposite you, but on the other side of the street with their stop sign completely visible. Even if the right-turn way is free, you must wait until she has the children safely across before continuing.

FALSE

This is a case of temporary signage intended exclusively for the pedestrian crossing on which the crossing guard is positioned. You may turn left or right if you can do so safely.

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3. Car drivers who meet a school bus coming in the other direction, whose way is separated by a physical obstacle such as a median strip, are not required to stop, even if the bus’s stop sign is extended and the flashing lights switched on.

TRUE

Be vigilant, however, in case a child suddenly appears and starts to cross.

By the same author: Washing the boat: a requirement vital for keeping our lakes healthy (Click the image below)