The Essex County Ontario Provincial Police will be participating in a region wide school bus safety initiative, Safety Stops Here, beginning Monday, March 2, 2026.

Essex County OPP members will be out and about throughout Essex County for a school bus enforcement initiative beginning Monday, March 2 and continuing through to Monday, March 9, 2026, where the focus will be on drivers who fail to put safety as a priority and put our kids at risk.

Bus awareness you need to know:

• Yellow flashing lights on bus means the bus is preparing to stop
  • Drivers in both directions MUST prepare to stop as well

• Red flashing lights and the “stop” arm means the bus has STOPPED
  • Drivers in both directions MUST stop.  If there is a concrete median dividing the road, vehicles on the opposite side of the median do not have to stop.

• Slow down and use extra caution when traveling through school zones

Passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing puts young lives at risk AND could lead to a fine of $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points for a first offence.

Parents are reminded to continue to speak to their children about the safety rules of getting on and off the bus.

If you have information on this event or any other crime activity in the area, contact the OPP at anytime at 1-888-310-1122 or if an emergency at 9-1-1.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or leave an anonymous online tip at www.catchcrooks.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

~ Image by Em Hopper on Pexels