April 9, 2007
Ontario Makes School Buses Safer For Kids
Ontario is making school buses safer by providing immediate funding to school bus operators to put a safety-crossing arm on the front bumper of every school bus, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced recently.
Crossing arms are wire or plastic devices extending from the front bumper on the right side of the school bus, ensuring children cross at a safe distance from the bus. In clear view of the bus driver, children can wait for the driver's signal that it is safe to cross.
As of Jan. 1, 2005, the Ontario government made it mandatory that new school buses have crossing arms and this recent announcement means that effective Jan. 1, 2008 all remaining school buses in Ontario must also be equipped with the safety-crossing arm.
There are approximately 17,000 yellow school buses operating in Ontario, of which an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 need retrofitting. To assist operators in making the change, the Ontario government has committed $2 million towards the cost of retrofitting these buses. Without these changes, it would take at least 10 years until older buses are off the road. The funding will also be available to school bus operators who added safety-crossing arms to older buses at their own expense.
For more information on school bus safety, visit www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/topics.htm#schoolbuses.
|
|
|