Manitoba drivers caught zipping past stopped school buses

Manitoba drivers are more likely to illegally zip past stopped school buses than drivers in other provinces.

Teknisult, a Winnipeg company that makes cameras and software to track violations, has been recording the habits of drivers across the prairies in scenarios involving school buses.

• Sudburyschool bus cameras to catch drivers who don't stop
• School bus camera to catch reckless drivers in Ottawa

The company has been gathering data from 10 school buses operating in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan for the last four weeks as part of a pilot project.

Drivers here are more than twice as likely to break the law, said Maurice Gregoire with Teknisult said. Its really bad.

Gregoire said of the 10 buses being tracked, theres been an average of five traffic violations recorded per day.

• Cameras to nab cars passing Cape Breton school buses

LadineKlassen, a Winnipeg mother, was upset to hear aboutTeknisultsresults.

I think that thats terrible, because it is unsafe and the same message has been given to us over and over again about stopping if that stop sign is out, saidKlassen.

AnneHeinrichs, mother of three, said she sees drivers getting impatient when school buses have their flashing stop sign extended.

I think drivers need to stick to the rules and if they cant, they shouldnt be driving, saidHeinrichs.

Winnipeg police have issued 17 tickets in 2014 to drivers speeding past parked school buses, down from 20 in 2013.

Meanwhile, the RCMP doled out73 tickets in 2012, 83 tickets in 2013, and 55 tickets for the sameoffensein 2014, which costsunruly Manitoba drivers almost $700 regardless of their driving record.