P.E.I. mom 'shocked' at vehicles passing daughter's stopped school bus

'You just get upset that someone could be so careless'

Image | Elizabeth Schurman

Caption: Elizabeth Schurman boards the bus on the first day of kindergarten this fall. (Submitted by Colleen Schurman)

Island mom Colleen Schurman called the RCMP after two vehicles passed her daughter's stopped school bus Friday morning on the busy Blue Shank Road. She's worried about the safety of her daughter, Elizabeth, who is in kindergarten.
The bus had been stopped for a few minutes when an SUV whizzed by, then less than a minute later another vehicle passed the bus, Schurman told CBC News.
"First I was shocked, and then you get that moment where you're thinking if it had been in the afternoon my child would have been crossing the road at that time. And so, wow, how that could have been so much different," Schurman said.
"What are they doing that they're not paying attention that you miss a school bus with flashing lights? And then you just get mad ... You just get upset that someone could be so careless."

Not much recourse

RCMP told Schurman there isn't a lot they can do without a licence plate number or a way to identify the drivers.

Image | Elizabeth Schurman with her family as she prepared for the first day of kindergarten

Caption: Colleen and Elizabeth Schurman on the first day of kindergarten this fall. (Submitted by Colleen Schurman)

It was dark and foggy Friday morning, so Schurman said she didn't get a good look at the vehicles.
"They're aware, anyway, that that's happening," she said.
Schurman plans to have her cellphone ready for the next week when her daughter is getting on and off the bus, in case of another such incident.
She's also discussed the possibility of the bus dropping off her daughter on the same side on which she is picked up, but she said officials told her it's not possible with the bus's current route.