FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2019
Ontario’s government for the people has announced new measures to give municipalities the tools they need to target drivers who threaten the safety of children crossing roads to get to and from their school bus.
The proposed regulations will allow for more efficient enforcement and prosecution by allowing evidence from school bus cameras to be used in court without the requirement of an additional witness.
“The Ministry of Transportation’s proposed new measures will help communities like Haldimand and Norfolk improve the safety of students on school buses and hold irresponsible drivers accountable,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett.
“The safety of our most precious resource, our children, is our government’s number one priority,” said Minister Yurek. “We intend to create a regulatory framework that will allow for more efficient enforcement and prosecution to keep our children safer.”
“These proposed regulations will increase safety for children across Ontario,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. “Parents in Oxford know we’re committed to ensuring their children who travel to and from school by bus are safe.”
“I’m proud to be a part of a government that is finding simple solutions to keep our children safer,” said Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma.
Ontario also plans to introduce legislation that, if passed, would allow municipalities to target drivers who threaten the safety of children on school buses with new, additional monetary penalties.
Quick Facts:
- Each school day, more than 837,000 students travel in a school vehicle in Ontario.
- Injuries and fatalities, which are very rare, happen more often outside the school bus as students are boarding and leaving the bus or crossing the street.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Andrew Buttigieg ontario.ca/transportation-news
Press Secretary, Minister’s Office Disponible en français
Bob Nichols
Communications Branch
416-327-1158