With the school year just around the corner, some in Airdrie are still concerned that buses can't use their flashing lights and stop arms.

The issue was brought forward during public question period on Monday night (August 21), as some worry about potential accidents during the school year.

Director of Community Infrastructure with the City of Airdrie, Lorne Stevens explains their motive behind instituting this law and keeping it.

"You're encouraging behaviour that allows students to more or less use the school bus as a temporary crosswalk, potential for darting out from behind the bus. We're concerned about the behaviour that that sets, the risks to students."

When it comes to the safest areas to drop off students, Stevens says it's up to the residing school boards to establish those spots, adding that they've done their own hazard and safety assessments.

While some in the City may not have known about the bylaw until recently, Stevens says it's nothing new for Airdrie or Canada.

"What we do within the City of Airdrie is what is done in most Urban Municipalities in Alberta and beyond. Certainly the norm is to not deploy the school bus stop arms in an Urban environment."

The same law prohibiting the use of flashing lights and stop arms is active in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge. Other communities including Regina and Saskatoon also hold the bylaw.*

Ontario though is on the opposite end as it mandates the use of the lights and arms according to the Highway Traffic Act from the Ministry of Transportation.

Stevens says he's heard the different concerns from Airdrie residents, but the City sees no reason to change the Bylaw right now.

"If anything came forward from our enforcement entities, the RCMP, Municipal Enforcement, School Board, Bus and Transportation company I'm sure they (city council) would want to take a closer look but at this point there's been nothing put forward to suggest that it should be revisited."

 

*Technical Report On The Use Of Flashing Lights and Stop Arms For School Buses. City of Calgary, March 2014.  

http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/cache/2/aac2remgpmnu4sgtv0bajtb0/36452608232017013207943.PDF

 

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com