Kelowna

Police hope an incident in Oliver Tuesday morning serves as a reminder to motorists to pay attention around school buses.

Shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, the driver of an SUV failed to stop for warning lights on a school bus and hit a 10-year-old boy who was attempting to cross Highway 97 to board the bus.

The boy was transported to hospital in Penticton with internal injuries as a result of the incident.

According to the Motor Vehicle Act, motorists are required to stop when the bus displays the 'Stop Sign' or the red lights on the bus are flashing.

Flashing amber lights are a warning that the lights will, within seconds, turn red.

Since September, 2011. Sgt. Ann Morrison says there have been 71 incidents reported to police relating to motorists failing to obey the rules of the road around school buses.

RCMP traffic cop Cst. Tim Monteith says if the trend continues, it's not a matter of if, but when, a serious accident occurs.

It's far too popular of an offence in Kelowna and, it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed," says Monteith.

"Let's do all we can to make sure it doesn't happen."

Many school buses in the Central Okanagan are now equipped with on board cameras that record driver behaviour.

By virtue of what is caught on camera, police can, and have, knocked on people's door and handed them a ticket for failing to stop for a school bus.

The fine is $173.

​School bus safety originally aired April 6, 2011.