Canada Law

Ask a Canada Law Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Connect one-on-one with {0} who will answer your question

What legal right does a private school bus company have to…

Customer Question

What legal right does a...

What legal right does a private school bus company have to place 3 children instead of 2 on a standard school bus seat. Thanks! XXXXX

Submitted: 10 years ago.Category: Canada Law

Show Less

Ask Your Own Canada Law Question

Answered in 3 minutes by:

11/22/2010

Lawyer: Debra, Lawyer replied 10 years ago

Debra, Lawyer

Category: Canada Law

Satisfied Customers: 132,045

Experience: Lawyer

Verified

What did the Ministry say?

What did the company say?

Is this for public school or private school?

Are you paying for this through the school?

What does the contract and literature say about this?

Customer reply replied 10 years ago

Hello,
I attached part of the letter I wrote to the Minister, the school and the bus company (southland). This is a public school, we pay for the bus system through our taxes whether we use the system or not. When I phoned the company they told me they were allowed to have 3 students per seat if they were in grade 6 or under. . I asked why they were allowed and the office person told me it was legal. This is when i sat down and wrote a letter. Some bus drivers I talked to said they were told it was OK, others said they do not put 3 children to a seat and did not know they could. I have not recieved a response yet from the minister as I just emailed the letter this week. This is some of the information I found, but I found no mention of students per seat anywhere whether it was in my favour or theres. Below is a part of my letter that I sent regarding the information I found. Thanks

My Research:
I looked up a few things online and the found the Student Code of Conduct for the Rocky View schools. (http://www.rockyview.ab.ca/transportation/studentinformation) Item number four clearly states “Sitting squarely in the seat, facing forward. Keep head, limbs and objects inside the bus and out of the bus aisle. This is the safest way to travel on a school bus and may prevent serious injury”

I also found an Alberta Transportation report where I quote “School buses use a passenger protection strategy known as compartmentalization, with strong, closely-spaced seats having energy-absorbing seat backs that protect students in the event of a crash. Compartmentalization is known throughout North America as the safest method known for transporting large groups of students of varying ages and sizes. The bus seats are spaced and the seat backs sized to prevent passengers being thrown around in an impact. A barrier in the front of the first row of seats protects first row passengers. The design balances the energy absorption and the strength of the seat backs and barrier. (Ensuring the safety of our children: a report on school bus safety October 2008 Government of Alberta)

Transport Canada reported that over a 10 year period between 1995 -2004 there was an average of over 2,500 accidents per year involving school buses. ( http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/tp-tp2436-rs200702-menu-133.htm). I have seen first-hand the damage that bus accidents can have. We have a family member who was a passenger on a Canadian tour bus and due to a roll over is now a C3/C4 quadriplegic so I do not take bus safety lightly.

Requests:
1. An explanation of why drivers and Southland office staff have the understanding that 3 children to a seat allowed up to grade 6 is “legal”. How is it possible to have 3 average sized children with their clothing and backpacks in a seat and still comply with the Alberta Governments compartmentalization standards and the Rocky View student code of conduct?

2. I am seeking confirmation of procedures that are in place that ensure my child is safe on every bus ride with no exceptions. E.g. Does a bus driver look down the aisles and ensure the code of conduct is being followed each time the bus drives off from a stop? Does every bus driver follow the same procedures?

3. Who is ultimately liable to ensure that safety procedures are being followed correctly?

4. If the policy is to allow any rider with a bus pass on the bus how is it ensured that my child who is at the last stop will have a safe seat?

I am looking forward to your reply.

Lawyer: Debra, Lawyer replied 10 years ago

Here are a few links that information you may find helpful as they do mention two and three kids per seat:

http://www.asba.ab.ca/files/pdf/funding_trans_report.pdf

http://www.redeemer.ab.ca/tranportation/Pages/faq.aspx#3seat

http://www.willcobus.com/

There are dozens like this.

It's clear that the standard is 3 per seat and that the buses are manufactured this way.

Does that help?

Was this answer helpful?

Yes

How JustAnswer works

Describe your issueThe assistant will guide you

Chat 1:1 with a lawyerLicensed Experts are available 24/7

100% satisfaction guaranteeGet all the answers you need

Related Canada Law Questions

What are my rights to have a school bus transport my kids to

What are my rights to have a school bus transport my kids to a private school? … read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

My grandson, who lives with me is, has been and is still

My grandson, who lives with me is, has been and is still being bullied at school and the bus, he has been choked, beaten up, and bitten, he is being bullied by a girl in his class, who bit him, and th… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

I fell on the bus on Dec 9th, 2016, I do have a file # from

Hi, I fell on the bus on Dec 9th, 2016, I do have a file # from ICBC, unfortunately none of the lawyers want to take my case, due to the fact that the bus driver was not at faul, however, because the … read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

My Grandson has been bullied at his school since he was in

My Grandson has been bullied at his school since he was in Kindergarten. He is now in Grade 3 and has severe stress and his Parents have been advised ....by the School Psychologist and their Family Do… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

My wife and I are both school bus drivers. About 3 months

My wife and I are both school bus drivers. About 3 months ago, I (the driver for the morning) got sideswiped by the road grader. After the insurance companies now seem to have decided that I was at fa… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

Can a condo board make rules not to allow a small school bus

Can a condo board make rules not to allow a small school bus to pick up a child of 6 years of age, entering the condo complex/drive way… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

I have two adopted special needs girls on a school bus, one

I have two adopted special needs girls on a school bus, one of them is being bullied, one makes very poor choices. I have asked for cameras on the bus since September 2013 to see what is going on and … read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

What is the definition of "indirect contact" The wording is

What is the definition of "indirect contact" The wording is "No contact direct or indirect with any person under the age of 16 years outside school supervised hours or unless in the presence of a resp… read more

Law.Hut

Lawyer

Law degree (Juris Doctor)

6,458 satisfied customers

As a British Columbia School District Bus Driver, I believe

As a British Columbia School District Bus Driver, I believe I am legally responsible by law for the safety of my non-adult passengers, both on-board and during loading & departure. Given I alone will … read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

I have a new friend in Romania who would like to bring his

I have a new friend in Romania who would like to bring his family to Canada to live and to continue to drive coach busses for a living. I am not willing to put up much ( any) money of my own for his c… read more

D.A.M.

Principal Attorney

Doctoral Degree

2,755 satisfied customers

Can a Mother change her residence from Mississauga to Brampton

Can a Mother change her residence from Mississauga to Brampton and her 7 year old child's school from Mississauga to Brampton when she has joint custody with the Father, equal sharing of time with the… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

I went to pick up my kids this morning from my ex wife for

I went to pick up my kids this morning from my ex wife for a pre scheduled visit and she informed me that they had gone camping. A trip that my oldest son had asked me for permission to go on but I sa… read more

Ulysses101

Litigator, Barrister and Solicitor

LLB

4,114 satisfied customers

Hello I have a problem with my separation agreement. I work

Hello: I have a problem with my separation agreement. I work on the weekends and my ex wants me to take my children every other weekend. This causes two problems. One of which is that I have to find a… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

Hi, I live in Quebec. I have 2 questions. 1. Legally, what

Hi, I live in Quebec. I have 2 questions. 1. Legally, what is the minimum age I can leave my child home alone for 2 to 3 hours (ie. after school). 2. Legally, what is the minimum age my oldest child, … read more

Jeremie John Martin

Lawyer

Quebec bar and LLB, LLM (attending)

1,300 satisfied customers

I am a school bus driver and recently I was investigated by

I am a school bus driver and recently I was investigated by Children's Aid Society regarding a false accusation. Some one reprted that I physically grabbed a student and removed themout of one seat an… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

Hi, thankyou for your time. We have had a few incidents

Hi, thankyou for your time. We have had a few incidents with my daughters bus driver. She just turned 11 and is 66lbs. Just to give you an idea of her size and how intimidating this situation can be t… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

I have a child with autism going to a public school at the

I have a child with autism going to a public school at the Kindergarten level. I did not want to put him on harness in the school bus as he keeps his seat belt on in the car. I gave to school in writi… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

i want to know if i have a case, me and my 2 children and my

i want to know if i have a case, me and my 2 children and my boyfriend were recently in a vehicle accident involving a edmonton transit bus and a city garbage truck, we were sitting right where the tr… read more

Debra

Lawyer

Doctoral Degree

132,045 satisfied customers

Disclaimer: Information in questions answers, and Show More

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.

JustAnswer in the News:

What Customers are Saying:

Your Expert confirmed everything that I had been told, and didn't want to believe. Thank you for putting my mind at rest.
MonikaCanada

This has been very helpful. I'm glad to see that lawyers and sites like this exist. Thanks for your help.
MikeHalifax, NS

Mr. Kaplun clearly had an exceptional understanding of the issue and was able to explain it concisely. I would recommend JustAnswer to anyone. Great service that lives up to its promises!
Gary B.Edmond, OK

My Expert was fast and seemed to have the answer to my taser question at the tips of her fingers. Communication was excellent. I left feeling confident in her answer.
EricRedwood City, CA

I am very pleased with JustAnswer as a place to go for divorce or criminal law knowledge and insight.
MichaelWichita, KS

PaulMJD helped me with questions I had regarding an urgent legal matter. His answers were excellent.
Three H.Houston, TX

Anne was extremely helpful. Her information put me in the right direction for action that kept me legal, possible saving me a ton of money in the future. Thank you again, Anne!!
ElaineAtlanta, GA

< Previous | Next >

Meet the Experts:

Tom B.

Barrister & Solicitor

2,264 satisfied customers

25 years in practice

LawyerProfessor

Lawyer

838 satisfied customers

Experienced Litigation Lawyer in Ontario since 1999 and NY since 1997

Debra

Lawyer

132,045 satisfied customers

Lawyer

Jeremie John Martin

Lawyer

1,300 satisfied customers

I'm a bilingual attorney for the province of Quebec who goes to Court often for many clients.

Counsel Creed

Lawyer

825 satisfied customers

associate at GTA law firm

JJL11

Lawyer

680 satisfied customers

Licensed to Practice law in Ontario for over 25 years.

James Macdonnell

Lawyer

338 satisfied customers

Senior Litigation Counsel

< Previous | Next >

Show MoreShow Less