School Bus Fails-to-Stop Ticket Issued in Forteau, NL
Community Safety Alert for Forteau and Area Drivers
On the afternoon of April 14, a patrol officer with Forteau RCMP observed a serious traffic violation involving a stopped school bus on Main Street in Forteau, Newfoundland and Labrador. A northbound passenger vehicle drove past a school bus that was actively unloading a student with its red lights flashing and stop sign extended.
The driver, a 60-year-old woman, was pulled over immediately and issued a ticket for failing to stop for a school bus. This incident occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m., during a busy after-school period when children are at heightened risk around roadways.
Official Incident Details
Based on information released by the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador, the following details have been confirmed:
- On April 14, shortly before 3:30 p.m., an RCMP officer was on routine patrol travelling southbound on Main Street in Forteau.
- The officer stopped behind a school bus that was dropping off a student, with its red warning lights flashing and stop arm/sign extended, as required.
- A passenger vehicle travelling northbound toward the bus did not stop, continuing past the stopped school bus.
- The officer conducted an immediate traffic stop on the northbound vehicle.
- The driver, a 60-year-old woman, was issued a ticket for failing to stop for a school bus.
What the Law Requires Around School Buses
The incident prompted a reminder from police about driver responsibilities around school buses. Under the Highway Traffic Act in Newfoundland and Labrador, the following rules apply:
- When a school bus has red lights flashing and the stop arm extended, drivers in all lanes of traffic must come to a complete stop.
- The only exception is on a divided highway with a physical median. In that case, only vehicles travelling in the same direction as the bus (traffic behind the bus) are required to stop.
- When a school bus has flashing yellow lights, drivers must slow down, pay close attention, and be prepared to come to a full stop.
- Passing a school bus in violation of these rules is both illegal and extremely dangerous, posing a serious risk of injury or death to children and other pedestrians.
If you witness a vehicle passing a school bus without stopping when required, police urge you to contact your local police detachment to provide details such as the vehicle description, licence plate, time, and location of the incident.
CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
At CrimeCanada.ca, we highlight incidents like this one in Forteau because violations around school buses directly endanger children and other vulnerable road users. Even a single driver who fails to stop can turn an ordinary afternoon drop-off into a life-threatening situation. Residents can review local patterns and safety trends for the area using resources like the Forteau crime and safety statistics page.
To help keep Newfoundland and Labrador communities safer, drivers should always reduce their speed in school zones, avoid distractions, and anticipate that children may cross unexpectedly near buses and stops. Treat every stopped school bus with flashing lights as a potential emergency: slow down early, stop well back from the bus, and do not proceed until the lights stop flashing and the stop arm is retracted. Community members who report dangerous driving behaviour around school buses play an important role in preventing tragedies and supporting safer streets for everyone.
Official Source & Community Safety
This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the newfoundland-and-labrador community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.
Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.