NORTH BAY — Transports blowing by stopped school buses on area highways are a common occurrence according to a couple living on Highway 11 in Marten River, and they've shared their video evidence with BayToday.
"It's the second time in less than a month that this has happened. Something needs to be done about it!" Cara Smetana said this morning after the incident.
"It happens more than you would know," she said as she recalled the number of close calls her three children have had.
"The bus has had to pull over quickly in order not to get rear-ended. On the way to school, the kids get picked up on our side of the road, so the trucks just go by and the boys don't get hit. It's on the way home when they get dropped off, where they have to cross the road that it's also happened. The boys have to stay on the other side and transports have flown through.
"So we stop our boys from crossing when the transports come through. It's always scary."
The speed limit is 90 kph at that point but Cara says trucks are routinely going well above that.
"That guy was just flying. No stopping whatsoever. There were no other vehicles around and it's a long straight stretch and she put her lights on way in advance because she saw the headlights coming.
"So I told my boys, 'don't worry, he's got lots of time, don't worry about it' but he just kept cookin' along and I thought 'oh my gosh he's not going to stop' so I videoed it, but it's so dark I didn't get a plate number or anything."
Cara's husband Dave has, several times in the past, jumped in his truck and chased the offending driver and called the OPP. Drivers have been charged and Dave has gone to court to testify after the drivers have contested the charge. The couple has also sent today's video to the police.
"It's unbelievable," says Cara. "It's so stressful. It's awful. Every morning I stress out and every afternoon when I know they are coming back, especially if there is snow or bad weather, there's anxiety. But it's either that or home school."
The couple has three boys (13, 10, 9) getting on the bus with a fourth set to join them in two years. It takes them an hour and 45 minutes to get to school in North Bay.
Drivers can be charged if they pass a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing. The first offence is a $400 to $2,000 fine and six demerit points. Each following offence is $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time of up to six months.
- BayToday.ca
