What Are the Rules for School Buses in Ontario?

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, every driver approaching a school bus that has its upper alternating red lights flashing and its stop arm extended must stop. This applies to drivers travelling in both directions on an undivided road. You must remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the stop arm is retracted, or the bus moves.

The only exception to the stop requirement is when the school bus is stopped on the opposite side of a divided highway that has a raised median or physical barrier separating the lanes. If you are on the opposite side of such a physical divide, you are not required to stop. However, if the road is separated only by a painted centre line or turning lane, both directions must still stop.

Failing to stop for a school bus in Ontario is one of the most severely penalized traffic offences. A first conviction results in a fine of $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points. A subsequent conviction within five years increases the fine to $1,000 to $4,000, carries six demerit points, and can result in a licence suspension of up to two years.

Before a school bus stops, it will typically activate amber (yellow) flashing lights to warn approaching drivers that it is about to stop. You are not yet required to stop when only amber lights are flashing, but you should slow down and prepare to stop as the red lights will follow shortly. Never try to speed past a bus with amber lights.

School bus law is covered in the G1 written knowledge test and BDE curriculum. New drivers must understand both the legal requirement and the reason behind it: children may cross directly in front of or behind the bus and are not always visible to drivers. The strict rules and heavy fines reflect how seriously Ontario takes the safety of children around school buses.