By Raymond Hainey

Copyright caymancompass

Police have warned motorists to drive carefully near school buses after a crash between one of the vehicles and an SUV.

Superintendent Adrian Seales, head of traffic and roads policing, said drivers could face prosecution if they break the rules.

“We take this opportunity to remind the public to practise safe driving and and to take particular care when driving behind or near school buses,” he said.

The school bus carrying students and an SUV collided in Bodden Town on Tuesday, 7 Oct. No one was injured, although the SUV suffered serious damage.

Seales said on Wednesday, “When a school bus makes a stop to pick up or drop off a passenger, vehicles travelling behind the school bus, or in oncoming traffic, must stop and allow passengers to cross.”

He added, “Only after the school bus has started driving again may other drivers then continue on their way.

“Failure to allow ample clearance to a school bus is an offence under the Traffic Act.”

Seales warned that drivers overtaking a moving school bus could face a charge of careless driving.

“We encourage everyone to do their best to avoid unsafe driving behaviours in general and around school buses and help us keep our children safe,” he said.

The Road Code of the Cayman Islands says that drivers must not overtake if a school bus is using its flashing lights and has either come to a stop or is slowing down.

Overtaking is only allowed after the bus has turned off the flashing lights and rejoined the traffic flow.

Part 8 of the code adds that all road users must halt when school bus lights are flashing, no matter which direction they are travelling in, and remain stationary until the lights go off.

It says that other road users should also keep a sharp lookout for any children crossing the road, from either side.

Paramedics attended the scene of Tuesday’s clash, but the students on board the bus – from the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre and dual-entry high school students studying at UCCI – did not require treatment.

Education officials said alternative transport arrangements were made to get the students home.

The crash happened on Anton Bodden Drive at about 3:30pm. Police said no one had been charged in connection with the incident and that inquiries continued.