The numbers are troubling.
School bus red light violations in the Tri-County Regional School Board increased by 46 per cent last year.
The 2015/2016 school year numbers show a 96 per cent increase in Digby County, a 39 per cent increase in Shelburne County
and a 37 per cent bump in Yarmouth County.
TCRSB Operations Director Steve Stoddart says they are doing everything they can, but the number of violations keeps growing.
“We’ve increased the number of buses with cameras and that is helping get some some convictions but it’s still pretty tough to, you know,
when a car goes through pretty quick, to identify the driver.”
He says they are concentrate using cameras on buses in areas with the highest violations.
He says they are working with the RCMP as well on the issue.
“We’re getting an excellent response from the RCMP and the province is pushing it but it’s pretty discouraging. We know the consequences
of what can happen and that’s what we fear.”
He urges those who see a violation to report it to police.
In Nova Scotia, a first offence under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving past a stopped school bus carries a $410 fine and six demerit points on the driver’s licence.
The fines increase with each offence.
Drivers can also be charged for passing a bus with its amber warning lights flashing.
