Failing to Stop for School Bus

Ontario courts and the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) have established a comprehensive set of laws concerning school buses.

​

Let's focus on the key sections of the Highway Traffic Act pertaining to school buses:

Meeting a school bus on a highway is governed by section 175(11). According to this provision, when encountering a stopped school bus with flashing lights, every driver or streetcar operator must come to a complete stop before reaching it and resume movement only after the school bus resumes its course or switches off the signal.

​

Approaching a school bus is addressed under section 175(12), which mandates that when approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights, a driver or streetcar operator must halt at least 20 meters away and proceed only after the school bus begins moving or deactivates the red lights.

In essence, whenever encountering or approaching a stationary school bus displaying overhead red signal lights, one must come to a stop before reaching it.

​

These regulations apply at all times, not just during school hours, and on any road, irrespective of the number of lanes or speed limits. Prosecutors and judges view violations of these laws as serious offenses endangering children, resulting in severe consequences.