A bus with a yellow traffic light is one of the most common road hazards that drivers encounter in Canada.
The road hazard, however, has also been known to kill.
As the story of how a woman survived a bus crash and her rescue by a driver goes viral, the road hazard is being studied in Canada as a potential cause of deaths.
The crash happened on Sept. 18, 2011, in the town of St. John’s, Ont., when a car hit the rear of the bus carrying the three women.
The driver was cited for dangerous driving, but his driving was not taken into account in the accident investigation.
The woman, a former teacher, was riding in the back seat and the driver was driving the front seat.
The bus was travelling at about 40 km/h (25 mph) when the driver stopped at a red light and drove into the back of the two women.
They both died.
The bus was not equipped with seat belts.
Police and coronavirus experts have identified the driver as a 25-year-old man from St. Catharines, Ont.
He was cited with dangerous driving and failing to wear a seat belt, but he was not charged with murder.
The man was given a conditional discharge.
The Ontario Provincial Police said in a statement the man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The incident prompted the Canadian Road Safety Agency to issue guidelines on how to assess driver performance in order to prevent collisions.
“Driver training is very important for the driver of a vehicle, and the person who is driving that vehicle is always required to take steps to make the vehicle safer,” said Robert Thompson, the chief medical officer for Ontario.
“When a driver performs poorly in these areas, they will not only have to pay a higher penalty for the collision but will also have to have a reduced driving record.”
It was not immediately clear if the man had a criminal record.
In the U.S., drivers are required to wear seatbelts, but that is not required of Canada.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation said it is reviewing the incident.
“We are working with the Canadian Ministry of Justice to address this situation and will share any information with the investigation team,” said spokesman Chris Brown.
“In Canada, the Ministry of Safety is conducting an internal investigation and we will provide any information that we receive,” he said in an email.
