From RCIPS

Police are reminding motorists to exercise care when it comes to public buses and school buses that have stopped to load or unload passengers.

This week, police have received multiple reports of incidents where motorists attempted to overtake buses without considering the safety of passengers who may be disembarking. One such incident, which took place on Tuesday, 21 November, on West Bay Road, involved a car attempting to overtake a school bus by going around the left side of the bus when it was letting off a student. The driver stopped when it became apparent there was not enough room for the maneuver. However, when the bus stopped again further up the road, the driver went around the left side of the bus again, driving over the sidewalk, and came close to colliding with a student who had just been let off.

“To not only attempt to overtake a school bus, but to do so by passing on the left side, directly in front of the bus door, is inexcusable, and such reckless behavior will not be tolerated,” said Acting Chief Inspector Everton Spence. “This incident shows a disregard for both the rules of the road and the safety of students travelling on the bus.”

Motorists are permitted to overtake public buses that have stopped, once it is safe to do so and if the road allows it. However, motorists are not permitted to overtake a school bus under any circumstances. Additionally, traffic going in the opposite direction is not permitted to travel past a school bus when it is stopped to load or unload passengers.

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