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

Six demerit points

Suspension of licence for life

Vehicle impoundment for 30 days

One demerit point

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

Only highways with speed limits over 80 km/h

Only city streets and town roads

All roads, regardless of the posted speed limit

Only rural county roads

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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:

Must attend traffic school but cannot be fined

Faces no consequences

Only receives a warning letter

Can be fined for the offence

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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:

Are not required to stop

Must stop 20 metres from the bus

Must stop if the bus is in the left lane

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

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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:

Slow down, be extra cautious, and prepare to stop

Stop only if you see children

Continue at the same speed

Pass the bus quickly before it stops

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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:

Slow down and pass carefully

Honk and drive past at a reduced speed

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

Stop only if children are crossing in front of you

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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

$4000

$1000

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

Must always stop and wait

Are not required to stop, but should still be cautious

Must turn around to avoid the bus

Must pull onto the shoulder and wait

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

Only if children are visible

Directly beside the rear of the bus

Any distance, as long as you stop

At least 20 metres before reaching the bus

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

Oncoming traffic starts to move

No passengers are visible near the bus

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

You have waited 30 seconds

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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

$600

$400

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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 can use red flashing lights to force traffic to stop

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

They do not need to take any special precautions

All other drivers must still stop for them

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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:

Be permanently banned from driving buses

Be required to attend weekly driving classes forever

Lose their licence automatically for five years

Go to jail for up to six months

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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:

$800

$1500

$2000

$4000

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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:

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

Post about it on social media instead of contacting police

Ignore it if no one was injured

Only report it to the bus driver

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

Transit buses during peak hours

Any vehicle stopping on the road shoulder

Any vehicle with flashing lights of any colour

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

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

Their insurance is cancelled immediately

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

The fine is forgiven after one year

Their licence will be automatically suspended

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

Is turning right at the next intersection

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

Is leaving the roadway

Has broken down and needs help

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.