Streets and sidewalks will be busy Tuesday as thousands of students across New Brunswick return to class.
That means police forces across the province will be stepping up their patrols to keep everyone safe.
Cpl. Hans Ouellette with the New Brunswick RCMP said drivers need to be patient and watch for flashing school bus lights.
“When a school bus has its red lights flashing, traffic in both directions, not just one, must stop and wait until the bus driver has turned off the lights before proceeding. That’s a very, very important thing,” Ouellette said in an interview.
As of Jan. 1, passing a school bus with its red lights flashing will now cost you $480 in fines and six demerit points.
School zone speed limits also take effect again Tuesday, so keep an eye out for signage.
Ouellette also reminds students to be careful around roadways, especially when crossing the street.
“Make sure you make visual contact with the drivers of vehicles that are stopping for you at those crosswalks and always make sure traffic is stopped in both ways before crossing,” he said.
If you have to cross the street before boarding or after disembarking a school bus, Ouellette said you should always wait for an “all clear” signal from the driver.
“We’ll be keeping an eye on things like we usually do,” he said.
Summer vacation is nearly over, and students are back in school next week. This means more traffic, and excited students waiting for the bus or walking to school. #RCMPNB is reminding drivers to pay extra attention to the road when commuting. pic.twitter.com/IbQGzzAAa1
— RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) September 2, 2021
