6 drivers ticketed for not yielding to school buses

Halifax Regional Police handed out six tickets within 90 minutes on Friday morningfor failing to yield to stopped school buses displaying flashing red lights.

All six drivers were pulled over on Hammonds Plains Road, near Killarney Drive. Fines for the offence start at $399.91.

Halifax Regional Police Const. Pierre Bourdages said he is shocked that after so many years, people are ignoring the law.

"It has been around for a very long time. I am at a loss to explain why people would even take the chance passing a school bus with the lights [flashing]," he said.

"I think there needs to be a reinforcement for people to realize that it is an offence under the Motor Vehicle Actto pass a school bus with its red light exhibiting. These lights are there for one reason, the safety of the students."

Bourdages said even though Hammonds Plains Road is a four-lane highway, people must still yield to school buses.

"We do remind people if a school bus is stopped, even if there are multiple lanes of traffic, you have to stop in both directions until the school bus proceeds," said Bourdages.

"It is very surprising, it's of great concern to Halifax Regional Police and we will keep on monitoring school zones and school buses in the coming days and coming months."