Saanich Police fine two drivers for passing stopped school buses

Saanich Police issued $368 fines to two drivers on Wednesday for illegally passing school buses with their stop signs extended and red lights flashing. The enforcement action occurred near Marigold Elementary and Spectrum Community School as students in the area returned to classes.

Law enforcement officers, volunteers, ICBC representatives, and members of the RCMP’s CRD Integrated Road Safety Unit conducted the monitoring to ensure compliance with school zone regulations. In British Columbia, drivers approaching a stopped school bus from either direction are required to stop and wait until the bus moves or the driver signals it is safe to proceed. Failing to stop also results in three penalty points on a driver's license.

Authorities noted that September is a high-risk month for young road users, with crash risks involving minors being 37% higher than the monthly average. School zones typically enforce a 30 km/h speed limit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days, while playground zones maintain this limit from dawn to dusk daily.