**KIRKLAND LAKE OPP NEWS RELEASE**

The Kirkland Lake Detachment of The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is participating in School Bus Safety Blitz on April 24, 2019, and have one key message, I STOP, YOU STOP. The OPP’s goal is to educate the public about the requirements of stopping for school buses, keeping our children safe and reducing the number of vehicles that fail to stop for school buses.  

The Kirkland Lake OPP and the Temiskaming District Road Safety Coalition along with local students will be set up at the Canadian Tire parking lot on Government Road West in the Town of Kirkland Lake, at 2:30 pm, to raise awareness on this topic.  

Motorists must keep a safe distance away from a stopped school bus with red overhead lights flashing and stop arm extended. When following a school bus, Ontario law requires vehicles to stop 20 meters behind the bus. When meeting a school bus in oncoming traffic, vehicles must stop at a safe distance to allow students to cross well ahead of the bus bumper. It is important to remain stopped until the school bus arm has been folded in again, and the overhead red lights have stopped flashing. Drivers who fail to comply with this law face a financial penalty of between $400 and $2000 and 6 demerit points. A subsequent offence can cost the driver anywhere from $1000 to $4000 in fines plus possible imprisonment. This law also includes that the vehicle owners can be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus.   

The next time you are driving and see a school bus, give it space, ease off the gas, and remember that it could stop at any time. A moment’s inattention can bring devastating consequences.  

Filed under: Local News