Newfoundland School Bus Rules: When to Stop and the Fines
When must I stop for a school bus in Newfoundland and Labrador?
In Newfoundland and Labrador, stop before you reach a school bus that has stopped, or is about to stop, with its signals on (flashing lights and/or a stop sign), from either direction. Stay stopped until the bus moves, its driver signals you to go, or the signals go off. Passing a school bus carries a fine of CAD 500 to CAD 1,200 and 6 demerit points.
Where these rules come from
The stop rule, the fines, the owner rules and the school zone limit are in sections 110.2, 110.3, 137 and 210 and the Schedule of the Highway Traffic Act. The demerit points are in the Schedule of the Demerit Point System Regulations and on the Motor Registration Division (MRD) Demerit Point System page. The safe-driving advice and the school zone signs are in the MRD Driver's Handbook. This guide is current as of 2026, and the Highway Traffic Act wins where the Handbook words a rule differently. Confirm the rules with the Motor Registration Division (gov.nl.ca/motorregistration) before you drive.
When you must stop for a school bus
- You meet the school bus or come up behind it, from either direction.
- The bus has stopped on the highway, or in a loading zone at a school or another place where children get on and off.
- Or the bus is about to stop. Its driver must turn on the visual signals 30 metres before the bus stops on the highway, and keep them on while it is stopped.
- When the bus has its signals on, stop your vehicle before you reach the bus.
What to do when you see a school bus
- 1Use extreme caution
Near any school bus, watch for flashing lights and/or a stop sign. They show that the bus is loading or unloading children.
- 2Stop before you reach the bus
Stop when the bus has stopped or its signals show that it is about to stop. Traffic in both directions stops.
- 3Stay stopped
Do not move while the signals are on and children get on or off the bus.
- 4Go only when the bus allows it
You may go when the bus starts to move again, its driver signals you to go, or the flashing lights and stop sign go off.
Do you have to stop? Common road situations
Fines and demerit points: school bus and school zone
| Offence | Fine | Demerit points |
|---|---|---|
| Passing a school bus (s. 137(1)) | CAD 500 to CAD 1,200 | 6 |
| School zone, 1 to 10 km/h over, first offence | CAD 100 to CAD 270 | 0 |
| School zone, 11 to 20 km/h over, first offence | CAD 300 to CAD 400 | 2 |
| School zone, 21 to 30 km/h over, first offence | CAD 500 to CAD 700 | 3 |
| School zone, 31 to 50 km/h over, first offence | CAD 700 to CAD 1,000 | 4 |
| School zone, 51 km/h or more over, first offence | CAD 900 to CAD 1,300, and a 7-day licence suspension | 6 |
Demerit points for passing a school bus
The 6 points for passing a school bus go on your record 30 days after the conviction date, and they count for 2 years. A driver with a full licence who has 12 or more points in 2 years loses the licence for at least 2 months the first time, and at least 4 months after that. For a novice driver (Class 5I, 5II, 6I or 6II), the limit is 6 points in one year. So one conviction for passing a school bus is enough to suspend a novice driver's licence. The guide to novice driver penalties explains the other novice rules.
School zone speed limits in Newfoundland and Labrador
In a school zone, you must not drive faster than 50 km/h, unless a lower limit applies. The zone is the length of highway between the two posted school zone signs. The limit applies from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days when school is regularly held. Posted limits in school zones vary from 30 km/h to 50 km/h, so obey the posted maximum speed. The school ahead sign is a pentagon, blue with white figures of students or fluorescent yellow. At 51 km/h or more over the limit, a peace officer gives you a notice that suspends your licence for 7 days.
Newfoundland school bus rules: common questions
Do I have to stop for a school bus on the other side of the road?
Yes, on most roads. The stop rule covers a bus that you meet from either direction, and on a multi-lane undivided highway all lanes stop. The exception is a highway with separate roadways: if the bus is on the other roadway, you need not stop.
Can the car owner be charged if someone else passed the school bus?
Yes. For passing a school bus or speeding in a school zone, the owner of the vehicle may be held responsible and have to pay the penalty. This also applies when a camera system (an image capturing enforcement system) is used to enforce the rule. The owner is not responsible if another person had the car without the owner's consent, or if the driver was already held responsible.
Which vehicles count as a school bus?
Under the Highway Traffic Act, a school bus is a motor vehicle that is designed or used to carry 7 or more passengers plus the driver. It is owned, operated by or contracted to the Crown or a school board, or their agent. It carries children to or from school, or to school-related activities.
What rules must a school bus driver follow?
The bus driver must stop in the roadway, except where a school or another place has a loading zone, and must not delay other vehicles more than necessary. The bus must show SCHOOL BUS signs on the front and rear, with letters at least 20 centimetres high. Stopping in an improper place or delaying traffic costs CAD 100 to CAD 400 and 2 demerit points.
Key takeaways
- Stop before you reach a school bus that has stopped, or is about to stop, with its signals on, from either direction. The exception is a bus on a different roadway of a highway with separate roadways.
- Go only when the bus moves, its driver signals you to go, or the signals go off.
- Passing a school bus carries a fine of CAD 500 to CAD 1,200 and 6 demerit points, enough to suspend a novice driver's licence.
- In a school zone, the limit is 50 km/h unless a lower limit is posted, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days.
- Next step: practise road rules on the free Newfoundland and Labrador Class 5I practice test.
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