School buses are back. Here's what London drivers do that police say must end now

As children across the region head back to school today, officials and advocates are reminding drivers to be vigilant and careful around school buses. 

Jim Whitehead, a driver for Langs Bus Lines in London, has noticed a clear trend. He's observed that as the school year progresses, incidents that could put children or buses in danger tend to decrease. But right now, drivers are more relaxed after easy summer months commuting. 

"Especially in the first two days, it's quite a bit different, right? It's a big shock for some people," said Whitehead, who has been behind the wheel of a school-purpose vehicle for the past eight years. 

"Next thing you know, oh crap, now I gotta wait behind the school bus," he said.

Whitehead recalls seeing impatient drivers run stop signs to get past a school bus. Or other drivers who fail to stop for flashing red lights. 

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has also noticed new trends, ones the force hopes will end.

Bus companies across southwestern Ontario adopted a new signaling system last year where amber lights flash to warn drivers they need to stop, followed by flashing red lights to signal a full stop. 

"What we heard from many drivers and bus company owners was that people were racing to pass through as the amber lights came on," said OPP Const. Jeffery Hare, who notes that calls come in daily about misconduct around school buses. 

"They were speeding up and they were almost racing through lights to avoid being inconvenienced," he said.

The importance of education and awareness in the fight for school bus safety can't be overstated, according to Hare, who says children often aren't paying attention when getting off the bus after a long day at school, which means adults have to pay extra attention.

One of the simplest adjustments that can be made by the average driver, is allowing more time for your commute.

That's the advice of Scott Marshall, a road safety expert of 35 years, and the training director of Trubicars, a local driving school.

"Everybody's in a hurry these days. They want to be there yesterday. We leave things to the last minute," said Marshall. "Allowing more time is important. If you see those amber lights, slow down, you're probably heading toward another stop light anyways."

Other tips include general road safety guidelines, like limiting distractions and allowing buses the space they need outside of schools to pick up and drop off students, Marshall said.