A Call to STOP for the School Bus
By Pierre Ranger, Chair of the Let’s Remember Adam Campaign and Adam’s Older Brother
My name is Pierre Ranger, and I am the Chair of the Let’s Remember Adam – STOP FOR THE SCHOOL BUS campaign. More importantly, I am one of Adam’s older brothers.
On February 11, 2000, our family’s world changed forever. It was a clear, dry day when the school bus stopped outside our home just east of Mattawa. The red overhead lights were flashing, and the stop arm was extended — all the proper warnings were in place. Adam, just five years old, was crossing the road with our brother Alex, who was 11 at the time. That’s when a truck approached, ignoring the stopped school bus. Alex saw it coming and tried to pull Adam back — but he missed. Adam was struck and killed right at the end of our driveway.
That moment sent shockwaves through our family, our community, and everyone on that school bus. Nothing has ever been the same.
In 2004, our mother, Deb Ranger, was determined to ensure no other family would have to live through the nightmare we experienced. With the support of the Ontario Provincial Police and several community organizations, the Let’s Remember Adam campaign was born. At the heart of the campaign was Adam’s final school photo — a smiling face meant to remind drivers of the innocent lives they risk when they ignore school bus laws. Billboards went up. Bumper stickers spread the message far and wide.
In 2014, I took over the campaign, and today we are an official non-profit organization with a dedicated board of directors. Our focus has grown to include advocacy for real safety reforms for school buses in Ontario.
One of our biggest victories was helping to mandate the Amber Eight-Lamp Warning System on all school buses in Ontario. Before this, Ontario was the only place in North America without amber lights on its buses. These amber lights act as an early warning to drivers that a bus is about to stop — giving them time to slow down and prepare to stop.
But despite these advancements, stop-arm violations continue to rise across the province. Drivers are still illegally passing stopped school buses, putting children’s lives at risk every single day.
That’s why our campaign is now pushing for stricter penalties. We believe that failing to stop for a school bus should carry the same consequences as stunt driving:
· A minimum fine of $2,000 (up to $10,000)
· Six demerit points
· A 30-day driver’s license suspension
· Up to six months in jail
· A 14-day vehicle impoundment
We also believe stop-arm cameras should be a standard factory-installed safety feature on all school buses in Ontario — just like backup cameras on personal vehicles. Technology exists to catch offenders and protect children — so why aren’t we using it?
At its heart, the Let’s Remember Adam campaign — and our family’s mission — is about ensuring no other family has to face what we’ve endured. Every child deserves to travel to and from school safely. We cannot do this alone. We need your voice, your support, and your action.
Please contact your local MP, MPP, mayor, and council members. Tell them enough is enough. Demand real action to protect our children.
Every single time a school bus stops, there’s a child getting on or off. And every single time, there’s a chance someone won’t stop.
Let’s make sure they do.
And let’s stop this — together.
Let’s remember Adam STOP FOR THE SCHOOL BUS.