Here’s what the new flashing amber lights on Ontario school buses mean

School buses have an updated lighting system with an additional set of coloured lights

Thestar.com
Sept. 8, 2022
Krystle Hewitt

If you’re a parent or guardian waiting for a child at a bus stop or you’re a driver on the road, you may have noticed a new set of flashing lights on school buses.

In time for the new school year, Ontario school buses have an updated lighting system mandated by the province to make it easier for drivers to recognize when a school bus will be slowing down to stop.

FLASHING AMBER LIGHTS

When a school bus is preparing to stop, the driver will activate flashing amber lights, signalling to drivers they should also slow down and prepare to stop.

Drivers approaching from the front or behind should prepare to stop.

However, if on a road with a median strip, only vehicles coming from behind the bus should prepare to stop.

FLASHING RED LIGHTS

Once the bus comes to a full and complete stop, the upper flashing red lights will appear and a stop arm will be activated. When drivers see this, it means the bus is loading students; they must stop and cannot move until the lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm is no longer out.

Drivers in front or behind the bus must stop.

However, if on a road with a median strip, only vehicles coming from behind the bus must stop.

The provisions were laid out in the Safer School Buses Act, 2021, which came into force on July 1, 2022.

Drivers who fail to stop for a stopped school bus that has its red lights flashing can be fined $400 to $2,000 and receive six demerit points for a first offence. Drivers convicted a second time within five years face a fine of $1,000 to $4,000 and six demerit points.