Photo: Navjot Singh, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Across Canada, when a school bus has its red lights flashing or its stop arm out, you must stop, whether you are behind it or coming towards it. The main exception is when a median divides the road and you are coming from the other direction. How far back you stop and what it costs if you don’t depend on the province. Here are the rules, province by province.
Key facts
- Flashing amber lights mean the bus is about to stop: slow down and get ready to stop.
- Stopping distance behind the bus: at least 20 m in Ontario, at least 6 m (20 ft) in Prince Edward Island, no closer than 5 m in Saskatchewan.
- Ontario: failing to stop for a school bus costs 6 demerit points.
- Saskatchewan: the minimum fine for passing a bus with red lights flashing is $360.
- You stay stopped until the red lights go off and the stop arm folds in. Ontario adds: until the bus moves.
What the school bus lights mean
| Signal | What you do |
|---|---|
| Alternating flashing amber lights | The bus is about to stop. Slow down and prepare to stop. Prince Edward Island requires you to reduce speed when meeting or overtaking the bus. Alberta: slow down; if you pass, pass with caution. The NWT manual says to pass with caution, if you must. |
| Alternating flashing red lights and/or stop arm | Stop. Stay stopped until the lights go off and the stop arm is pulled in. |
| Four-way hazard lights only | Saskatchewan: you don’t have to stop, but go slowly and watch for children. |
Rules for school buses by province
| Jurisdiction | Who must stop for red lights | How far back | Divided highway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Traffic behind and approaching | At least 20 m (from behind) | With a median, only traffic behind the bus stops |
| British Columbia | Traffic approaching from the front or the rear, in all lanes | Check the ICBC guide for the distance | No median exception: Motor Vehicle Act s. 149 requires traffic approaching from the front or the rear to stop (Learn to Drive Smart 2026, p. 92) |
| Saskatchewan | Traffic behind and, on an undivided highway, from the opposite direction | No closer than 5 m (15 ft) from the front or back of the bus | Opposite direction on a divided highway does not stop |
| Prince Edward Island | Traffic approaching the bus | Not less than 6 m (20 ft) from the front or rear | Check the Prince Edward Island handbook |
| Northwest Territories | Undivided road: all lanes, both directions | “Well back”, so drivers behind you can see the red lights | Median: traffic behind stops; traffic from the front may proceed |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Traffic meeting or overtaking the bus, in all lanes | Stop before reaching the bus; check the distance with Motor Registration | With a physical median, only traffic behind the bus stops |
| Alberta | Traffic in both directions on an undivided road; only traffic behind the bus where a median divides the road | About 20 m (four to five car lengths) | Oncoming traffic on a road divided by a median does not stop. Some municipal bylaws let buses run without flashing lights in town. 6 demerits for failing to stop (Driver’s Guide, Spring 2023, pp. 101 and 109) |
| Yukon | Traffic in either direction on a street or undivided highway | Check the Yukon handbook | Yukon Driver’s Basic Handbook, p. 88 |
| Nunavut | Traffic from the front or the rear | Check the Nunavut manual | Nunavut Driver’s Manual, p. 32 |
| Other provinces | Same core rule: stop for red lights | Check your provincial handbook | Check your provincial handbook |
Penalties for passing a stopped school bus
- Ontario: 6 demerit points for failing to stop for a school bus. For a G1 or G2 driver, 6 points brings a second warning letter, and 9 means a suspension.
- Saskatchewan: minimum fine of $360.
- Prince Edward Island: a charge under section 202 of the Highway Traffic Act.
- Alberta: 6 demerits for failing to stop.
- British Columbia and others: fines and points apply. Check the current amounts with your province.
For new drivers, demerit points from a school bus offence can trigger extra graduated licensing penalties. See Ontario demerit points for new drivers.
Step by step: approaching a school bus
- Spot the bus early. Rear-end crashes are the most common school bus collision, usually because a driver behind failed to stop (SGI).
- Amber lights on: ease off and cover the brake.
- Red lights on: stop smoothly at the required distance. On a multi-lane road, every lane stops.
- Wait. Don’t creep forward.
- When the lights go off and the arm is in, check that every child has finished crossing before you move (SGI).
Local exceptions
In Saskatchewan, some cities, towns and villages ban school buses from using their red stop lamps and stop arms. You may pass buses there, but go slowly and watch for children. Check local bylaws where you drive.
School zones also have their own speed rules set locally. Province detail: Alberta school zones, playground zones and school buses and sharing Ontario roads. National overview: learning to drive in Canada.
Common questions
Do I have to stop for a school bus on the other side of the road?
Yes on an undivided road, in every handbook listed here. On a road divided by a median, Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories let traffic on the other side continue. BC’s Motor Vehicle Act requires drivers approaching from the front or the rear to stop, with no median exception.
How far back do I stop behind a school bus in Ontario?
At least 20 metres.
Can I pass a school bus with flashing amber lights?
Amber means the bus is about to stop. Slow down and be ready to stop. The NWT manual says that if you must pass, do so with caution. Never pass once the red lights start.
When can I start moving again?
When the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm folds away. In Ontario, wait until the bus moves too. Check that children have finished crossing.
Do these rules apply in cities as well as on highways?
Yes. The NWT manual says the rules apply on both urban and rural roads. The Saskatchewan exception applies only where a local bylaw bans stop arms.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Sharing the road with other road users” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Keeping your driver’s licence” (ontario.ca)
- ICBC, “Learn to Drive Smart, Chapter 6: Sharing the road” (icbc.com)
- SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook”, Sharing the road with school buses (sgi.sk.ca)
- Government of Prince Edward Island, “Prince Edward Island Driver’s Handbook”, Chapter 4 School Buses (princeedwardisland.ca)
- Government of the Northwest Territories, “NWT Driver’s Manual”, Chapter 8 (inf.gov.nt.ca)
- House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, “Highway Traffic Act”, section 137 (assembly.nl.ca)
- Government of Alberta, “Alberta Driver’s Guide”, Spring 2023 (alberta.ca)
- Government of Yukon, “Driver’s Basic Handbook” (yukon.ca)
- Government of Nunavut, “Nunavut Driver’s Manual” (gov.nu.ca)