Chapter 5: Stopping-for-school-buses law

Ontario’s stopping-for-school-buses law is designed to protect children as they board or exit school buses.

Ontario School Bus Test - Chapter 5: Stopping-for-school-buses law

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If you report a vehicle for illegally passing a stopped school bus, you should be prepared that:

You may be required to attend court later to provide evidence about what happened

The driver will automatically lose their licence without a hearing

Your identity will never be known to anyone

You cannot be asked any questions by police about the incident

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The minimum fine for a first offence for not stopping for a stopped school bus with overhead red lights flashing or stop arm activated is:

$1000

$200

$400

$600

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For repeated offences of failing to stop for a stopped school bus, in addition to fines and demerit points, a driver could also:

Lose their licence automatically for five years

Be required to attend weekly driving classes forever

Be permanently banned from driving buses

Go to jail for up to six months

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The maximum fine for a first offence for failing to stop for a stopped school bus with overhead red lights flashing or stop arm activated is:

$500

$2000

$1000

$4000

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If a vehicle owner does not pay the fine for their vehicle illegally passing a stopped school bus:

Their licence will be automatically suspended

Their insurance is cancelled immediately

The fine is forgiven after one year

They will not be able to renew the vehicle’s permit

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When you meet (approach from the opposite direction) a stopped school bus with overhead red lights flashing and stop arm activated on an undivided road, you must:

Stop only if children are crossing in front of you

Stop before reaching the bus and not proceed until the lights and stop arm are off

Slow down and pass carefully

Honk and drive past at a reduced speed

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When approaching a stopped school bus from the rear with its overhead red signal lights flashing, you must stop:

Any distance, as long as you stop

Only if children are visible

Directly beside the rear of the bus

At least 20 metres before reaching the bus

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Drivers of school-purpose vehicles that are not chrome yellow school buses with proper markings and signals must remember that:

They do not need to take any special precautions

They do not have the protection of the school-bus stopping law and must be very careful where they stop and how passengers exit

All other drivers must still stop for them

They can use red flashing lights to force traffic to stop

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The stopping-for-school-buses law applies on:

Only highways with speed limits over 80 km/h

Only rural county roads

Only city streets and town roads

All roads, regardless of the posted speed limit

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In addition to fines, failing to stop for a stopped school bus with overhead red lights flashing or stop arm activated can result in:

Suspension of licence for life

One demerit point

Six demerit points

Vehicle impoundment for 30 days

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After stopping for a school bus with overhead red lights flashing and stop arm activated, you may proceed only when:

You have waited 30 seconds

Oncoming traffic starts to move

The bus moves or the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is no longer activated

No passengers are visible near the bus

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When you meet (approach from the opposite direction) a school bus with overhead amber lights flashing on an undivided road, you must:

Stop only if you see children

Slow down, be extra cautious, and prepare to stop

Pass the bus quickly before it stops

Continue at the same speed

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If you see a vehicle illegally pass a stopped school bus with overhead red lights flashing or stop arm activated, you may:

Post about it on social media instead of contacting police

Only report it to the bus driver

Report it to police immediately by calling 911 or go to a police station to make a report

Ignore it if no one was injured

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The overhead amber flashing lights on a school bus indicate that the bus:

Is leaving the roadway

Has broken down and needs help

Is turning right at the next intersection

Is coming to a stop to pick up or drop off passengers

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On a highway divided by a median, when a school bus is stopped with overhead red lights flashing and stop arm activated, drivers on the opposite side of the median:

Must stop if the bus is in the left lane

Are not required to stop

Must stop 20 metres from the bus

Must stop only if the speed limit is 60 km/h or less

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The stopping-for-school-bus law applies only to:

Any vehicle stopping on the road shoulder

Transit buses during peak hours

Chrome yellow school buses with proper markings and signals, when loading/unloading children or adults with developmental disabilities

Any vehicle with flashing lights of any colour

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If the driver is not charged, the registered owner of a vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus with overhead red lights flashing or stop arm activated:

Can be fined for the offence

Only receives a warning letter

Must attend traffic school but cannot be fined

Faces no consequences

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For a second offence within five years for failing to stop for a stopped school bus with overhead red lights flashing or stop arm activated, the maximum fine is:

$2000

$4000

$800

$1500

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When you approach a school bus from the rear with its overhead amber lights flashing, you must:

Slow down, be extra cautious, and prepare to stop

Stop immediately where you are

Maintain your speed and pass quickly

Honk to warn the bus driver you are passing

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On a road divided by a median, drivers approaching a slowing school bus with amber lights from the opposite direction:

Must pull onto the shoulder and wait

Must turn around to avoid the bus

Are not required to stop, but should still be cautious

Must always stop and wait

Your score is

When a school bus displays its flashing red lights and stop arm, drivers in both directions must stop, regardless of the number of lanes, unless separated by a median. Vehicles must remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the bus moves. Failing to obey this law can result in hefty fines, demerit points, and increased insurance costs. These regulations ensure children can safely cross the road and board or exit buses. Strict enforcement of the law helps prevent accidents and keeps school zones safe.