NBPS Concludes School Year with School Bus Safety Initiative
The North Bay Police Service (NBPS) wrapped up the 2025–2026 school year with Operation Chrome Yellow, a targeted enforcement initiative aimed at ensuring students travelled safely to and from school before summer break.
From June 22 to 26, 2026, members of the Traffic Unit, Patrol Section, Bicycle Patrol, and Community Response Unit partnered with Stock Transportation and First Student Inc. to monitor seven school bus routes identified as having the highest risk for stop-arm violations. Officers followed school buses, ready to intercept and charge drivers who failed to obey activated red school bus signal lights.
The initiative, which featured high police visibility on bus routes and in community safety zones, was successful, resulting in zero offences. NBPS received only one complaint regarding school bus lights for the entire week in the 400 block of Worthington Street East, which is being investigated. While no charges were laid during the initiative, officers observed several close calls where drivers braked suddenly after approaching stopped school buses, including locations on Airport Road, Gormanville Road, Lakeshore Drive, McKeown Avenue, and Norwood Avenue.
NBPS reminds drivers that Ontario’s eight-lamp amber-red warning system is not an intersection-style signal. Amber lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop and that students may be nearby, boarding, or exiting. Once the bus door opens, red lights activate and all traffic must stop immediately. Motorists are urged not to attempt to “beat” amber lights.
NBPS also reminds motorists that under Section 175 of the Highway Traffic Act, drivers must stop at least 20 metres behind a school bus when its red signal lights are activated. All traffic in both directions must stop unless separated by a median. Drivers who fail to stop, or leave a 20-metre distance, face a $490 fine and six demerit points, due to the very high risk of students being struck. In some cases, the registered owner of the vehicle may be charged if the driver cannot be identified, and charges may be laid up to six months after the offence. Many school buses are also equipped with exterior video surveillance systems to assist in enforcement.
“The last week of school is one of the busiest times of the year, with excited students travelling to and from school and looking forward to summer,” said Cst. MacIntosh, Traffic Enforcement Officer. “Drivers need to be especially attentive around school buses and continue that same level of vigilance throughout the summer, when more children and youth are walking, cycling, and spending time outdoors.”
NBPS will be planning focused school bus safety initiatives for the upcoming school year. This will include monitoring school bus routes for students with disabilities, as some drivers have been observed becoming impatient and proceeding while students in wheelchairs are still in the process of boarding.
NBPS thanks the community for continuing to drive safely in our community. We wish all students a safe and happy summer.
