Driving Tests

Manitoba School Bus Rules: When You Must Stop and How Far Back

informational·how to guide·Published April 16, 2026

Must you stop for a school bus with flashing red lights in Manitoba?

Yes. In Manitoba you must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, whether you come from the front or the rear. Stop at least five metres from the bus and do not pass it. Stay stopped until the red lights are off and the stop arm is folded in. Flashing amber lights mean slow down and prepare to stop.

Where these rules come from

The law is section 137 of The Highway Traffic Act (C.C.S.M. c. H60). Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) explains the rules in its Driver's Handbook, on the School Buses page, the School and Playground Areas page and the Driver Safety Rating page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Manitoba Public Insurance (mpi.mb.ca) before you drive.

When you must stop for a school bus in Manitoba

Section 137(2) of The Highway Traffic Act applies when you approach a school bus from the front or the rear. You must stop and must not pass the bus while one of these is operating: one or more flashing red warning lamps, or a warning system on the bus that tells approaching drivers to stop. On the road, this means the flashing red lights and the stop arm that extends from the left side of the bus. Always stop when the red lights of a school bus are flashing.

How far back must you stop?

Stop at least five metres from the bus. The rule is the same when you come toward the bus from the front and when you come up behind it. Keep the full distance: children who get on or off a bus may not pay attention to the traffic around them. Near a school bus, it is your responsibility to pay close attention and keep children safe.

What to do when a school bus stops ahead

1
Slow down at the amber lights
Flashing overhead amber lights mean the bus is about to stop to load or unload students. Slow down and prepare to stop.
2
Stop when the red lights flash
Stop at least five metres from the bus, from the front or the rear. Do not pass.
3
Stay stopped while children get on or off
The bus driver must turn on the warning lamps when pupils are getting on or off the bus, or are about to.
4
Wait for both signals to end
Stay stopped until the flashing overhead red lights are turned off and the stop arm is folded in.
5
Look for children, then go
Before you move, check for children near the bus and the road. They may not watch the traffic around them.

Divided highways: when you do not need to stop

The law has one exception. Section 137(3) says the stop rule "does not apply to the driver of a vehicle on a roadway that forms part of a divided highway if the school bus is located on a different roadway of the same highway."
The MPI handbook says: "You are not required to stop if travelling in the opposite direction on a divided roadway separated by a physical median or ditch." It also says: "A double solid line is not considered a physical separation."

Do you stop? Common road situations

Do you stop? Common road situations
Where the bus is	Do you stop?
In your lane ahead of you, red lights flashing	Yes. Stop at least five metres back and do not pass.
Coming toward you, red lights flashing	Yes. The rule applies from the front and from the rear.
On the other side of a double solid line, red lights flashing	Yes. A double solid line is not a physical separation.
On a different roadway of a divided highway, with a physical median or ditch between	No. The stop rule does not apply.
Anywhere near you, amber lights flashing only	Not yet. Slow down and prepare to stop.

What happens if you pass a stopped school bus?

MPI says that illegally passing a school bus "results in a large fine and moves you down the Driver Safety Rating scale." Traffic convictions move a driver down the scale, and a move down means higher premiums in most cases. A new driver can read how the Driver Safety Rating scale works for new drivers.

Other school rules for Manitoba drivers

Drive slowly and be ready to stop suddenly when a child is on or near the road, or close to a school or playground. Try the practice question on a child near a school or playground.
Do not pass another moving vehicle in a school area within 15 minutes of the opening or closing of classes, or at any time when children are on the school grounds or near the road. It is illegal.
Obey reduced-speed school zones. The posted signs show the limit and when it applies.
Watch for school safety patrols. They show that children are nearby.
Know the sign: a fluorescent yellow-green pentagon marks a school area.

Key takeaways

Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights, from the front or the rear, at least five metres away. Do not pass.
Flashing amber lights mean slow down and prepare to stop.
Stay stopped until the red lights are off and the stop arm is folded in.
The only exception: the bus is on a different roadway of a divided highway. A double solid line is not a physical separation.
Illegally passing a school bus brings a large fine and a move down the Driver Safety Rating scale.
Next step: practise on the free Manitoba Class 5 practice test. It is in English only.

Manitoba school bus rules: common questions

Do I have to stop for a school bus on a four-lane road in Manitoba?

It depends on what separates the two directions. If the bus is on a different roadway of a divided highway, with a physical median or ditch between, you do not have to stop. If only a double solid line separates the directions, stop when the red lights flash. A double solid line is not considered a physical separation.

Must I stop if the red lights flash but the stop arm is not out?

Yes. Under section 137(2) of The Highway Traffic Act, one or more flashing red warning lamps on the bus are enough. Stop at least five metres from the bus and do not pass. Always stop when the red lights of a school bus are flashing.

Can I pass a school bus with flashing amber lights?

Amber lights mean the bus is about to stop to load or unload students. You must slow down and prepare to stop. When the red lights start to flash and the stop arm extends, it is illegal to pass the bus from either direction.

What if the red lights go off but the stop arm is still out?

Stay stopped. You must remain stopped until the flashing overhead red lights are turned off and the stop arm is folded in. When both signals have ended, look for children near the bus and the road before you move.

How fast can I drive in a Manitoba school zone?

Follow the posted sign. In a reduced-speed school zone, the limit may be as low as 30 km/h where the regular limit is under 80 km/h, and as low as 50 km/h where it is 80 km/h or above. It may apply during school hours or at all times. Speeding there can bring a significant fine and a move down the Driver Safety Rating scale.