Red lights on school bus means stop

OPP is asking motorists to be extra cautious and attentive for school buses and students walking to and from school. 

Since 2022, amber-yellow lights on a school bus will flash to serve as a warning to drivers that the bus will soon come to a stop. Once the bus comes to a complete stop, the red lights will flash, and the stop arm will be extended which signals to drivers in both directions that they MUST come to a complete stop.

Drivers are reminded that failing to stop when meeting or overtaking a school bus is dangerous and could have dire consequences. When driving on a road without a median:

• drivers travelling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing and stop arm out
• when approaching a school bus from the front, stop at a safe distance to let children get on or off the bus and allow them to cross the road
• when following a school bus, stop 20 meters behind the bus
• do not move forward until the red lights have stopped flashing or the bus begins to move

Drivers and vehicle owners can be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus. Fines range from $490 to $2,000 plus six demerit points for a first offence and from $1000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time up to six months for each subsequent offence.