QUEBEC CITY – The Bus Carriers Federation officially kicks off its 27th provincial campaign about security in school transportation, having for theme Did You See Me? Starting today, until February 13 inclusively, various actions will be implemented in all regions of the province to remind road users, students and parents to be vigilant in the presence of school buses. Let’s remember that in Quebec, more than 523,000 students are transported by school buses in the morning and in the evening, travelling more than a million kilometres per day.
The students’ security is always a great concern for the school carriers. The campaign allows the Bus Carriers Federation to gather all school and transportation stakeholders around the Did You See Me? theme in order to raise the population’s awareness to adopt a safe behaviour and to ensure a greater confidence to our students when they travel by school bus.
The Did You See Me? theme reminds everyone the importance of being visible on the road and to proceed with caution each time they see a school bus.
A more than enviable road safety record
- No student deaths in a school bus since 1986;
- No student fatally injured by a school bus since February 2006.
”The annual Did You See Me? campaign is essential for the Federation and its carrier members, because even if the road safety record is exceptional, the risk of accident is always present. In 2013, there has been 84 people injured due to school transportation accidents… For us, each casualty is one too many. We invite the population to be particularly careful in the presence of school buses”, claims Martin Paquette, president of the Bus Carriers Federation.
Too many times, from negligence or unconsciousness, road users endanger the students’ security when crossing or following a school bus. Reducing speed when close to a school bus and respecting signage contributes to reduce the risk of accident.
The respect of laws and regulations, safe vehicles, competent and well-trained drivers, active partnerships between the various stakeholders, particularly the school boards, responsible of the logistics of the students’ transportation, are a number of factors demonstrating that nothing is left to chance regarding the school transportation security inQuebec.
Essential and committed partners
To ensure the success of this annual security campaign, the Bus Carriers Federation receives financial support of the Ministry of Transport, of the Société d’Assurance Automobile, of Intact Insurance, of Girardin inc. and of the Fédération des commissions scolaires du Québec. Finally, the school boards, the school councils and the police forces support the campaign and are actively engaged.
SOURCE Fédération des transporteurs par autobus
For further information: and interview requests: Marie-Pier Côté, TACT Intelligence-conseil, 418 999-4847,mpcote@tactconseil.ca
