It's School Bus Safety Awareness Week, and the Portage la Prairie School Division is doing its part to be involved.

Transportation Operations assistant supervisor Marilyn Bachalo says this year's theme is Stop on Red.

"It promotes vehicles stopping when the buses red warning lights are activated," Bachalo says. "Motorists approaching buses displaying those lights must stop from either the front or the rear no less than five metres from the bus."

"The fine for passing a school bus with the red lights activated is approximately $700, and two demerit points."

Bachalo adds students across the division took part in bus safety drills last week. She says they did evacuation exercises from all parts of the bus, including the rear door, front door and split door.

"That's so the students will be familiar with any kind of evacuation in case they ever need to do a real one," she says.

Bachalo notes it's important for everyone to remember safety issues around school buses, and the need for students and motorists to be safe.